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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
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Borough Centennial Souvenir 

CiREEMSBIIRCi 



ILLVSTKATED 

I 




1785— CHOSEN AS THE COUNTYSEAT. 

ISCliHI'OHATKIl AS A IIIIBOI-O II- t"l«». 



HISTORY 



OF- 



MAh 24 ibM 



GREENSBURG 

I UK.STIIDHKI.AS 1. COISIV. !• K.\ \ s V I. \ A M A I 
AND 

GREENSBURG SCHOOLS. 



ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY LOCAL ILLUSTRATIONS. 



COPYRIGHTED 1899 



IMMSTKl» \NI> IM I1I,1*»MK1) ItV 

VOGLE &. WINSHEIMER, 

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GREENSBURG SCHOOLS. 



BT B. F. VOGLE. 



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IREENSBURG was named in 
honoi' of that valiant and illus- 
trious Revolutionary soldier, 
General Nathaniel Greene. 
Many of the patriots from Westmore- 
land, in the war for Independence, 
were under his command and shared 
with him the trials and triumphs of 
Monmouth, Brandywine, German- 
town, Princeton, Trenton and the 
fateful Southern campaign. 

Before and for some months after 
it was determined upon as the county- 
seat, this locality was called Newtown. 
As it embraced only a few log huts, at 
that time, one would, on;first thought, 
conclude that the name was intended 
to represent what the place hoped to 
be rather than what it then was. 
There is good reason to believe, how- 
ever, that Christopher Truby origin- 
ally designated the little cluster of ^-cc-c-esc-sss-ssg^®®®® 



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MAJ. GEN. NATHANIEL GREENE. j 



cabins Newtown. He was one of the 
pioneer settlers of the site of Greens- 
burg. Truby emigrated to this vi- 
cinity as early as 1771, two years be- 
fore the organization of Westmore- 
land county. He came here from 
Bucks county, Penn'a. Newtown, 
still a flourishing village, for many 
years prior to 1812, was the seat of 
justice of that (Bucks) county. It 
was likewise the headquarters of Gen- 
erals Washington and Greene, in 
1776, vfhile the American army was 
guarding the Delaware river. Doubt- 
less, it was in fond recollection of his 
native county that Col. Truby con- 
ferred upon his new home in the 
western country, as this section was 
then known, the old name. 

Careful research has developed very 
nearly the exact time when the change 
was made from Newtown to Greens- 



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burg. In a certificate of a minil)er of the .fiistiecs of the 
Peace of Westmoreland county, (|)Lil)lisl)cd elsewhere in this 
volume), l)earino^ (late of August 10, 1786, they allude to a 
Court House and prison having- been erected "at Newtown." 
An Act of Assembly, passed September 19, 1786, pertaining 
to election districts, refers to "Cireenshurg, otlierwiso New- 




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town." In still another legislative measure, enacted Decem- 
ber 27, 17SG, relating to the Tru.stees for locating the seat of 
justice, mention is made of "the place now called Greens- 
burg, in the Township of Hemptield." It vpill thus be seen 
that the change of the name from Newtown to Greensburg 
was made between the middle of August and the middle of 
September. 1786, and the latter recognized by the 
General Assembly as the only name before the close 
of that year. 

Gen. Nathaniel Greene died near Savannah, Ga., 
on June 19, 1786. Because of the slow method by 
which news was transmitted at that early period, it 
is quite likely that the melancholy intelligence did 
not reach the western country for fully two months 
thereafter. Touched by the untimely death of this 
distinguished patriot and gallant conunander, (he was 
only forty-four years of age), it was very natural and 
highly credital)le to the citizens and soldiers of West- 
moreland, that they offered loving tribute to his 
memory by giving the new countyseat his name. 



BANK & TRUST BWLDINO. 
Corner of Main and East Ottcrman Streets. 



Locating the Seat of Justice, 

Greensburg, like nearlj' all county towns, came 
into being amid the sharp rivalry or strife of con- 
tending interests. At the time Westmoreland county 
was established, February 26, 1773, the house of 










Robert Hanna, at the settlement subsequently known as 
Hannastown, was desia;natecl as the place of holding the elec- 
tions and courts "until a Court House shall be built for said 
county." Messrs. Robert Hanna, George Wilson, Samuel 
Sloan, Joseph Irwin and John Caveat, or any three of them. 




were named and empowered to purchase land in some con- 
venient place, in trust, and thereupon to erect a Court House 
and prison; provided, that the sum to be expended did not ex- 
ceed £1,00. 

"Robert Hanna's house," as specifically named in the Act 
creating the county, was located on the road es- 
tablished by Gen. John Forbes, in the expedition 
against Fort Duquesne, in 1758. Hanna, with 
other pioneers, settled there (at Hannastown) some 
years before the formation of the county. Trav- 
elers were entertained at Hanna's house, and, in 
1773, that little settlement was the most important 
point between Fort Ligonier and Fort Pitt. Both 
liefore and after that place was selected for hold- 
ing the courts, until a countyseat should be def- 
initely decided upon, many influential men urged 
that Pittsburg be chosen, temporarily and per- 
manently, as the seat of justice. In 1773 Hannas- 
town and Pittsburg were of about the same im- 
portance and proportions. Although a majority 
of the Trustees, on one occasion, made a recom- 
mendation in favor of Hannastown for the county- 
seat, the opposition was sufficiently strong and 
active to prevent sanction on the part of the 
authorities and cause delay. 

Border troubles and the Revolutionary war like- 
wise intervened with the effect of still further re- 
tarding decisive action. The burning of Hannas- 









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town ))y the Indians in July, 1782, was fol- 
lowed by renewed agitation for a ehan2:e of 




UESIDENCE OF MK. S. P. BROWN 
North Main Street. 



the place of holding the courts. A supplemental Act of Assembly, accord- 
ingly, was passed on March 22, 1784, setting forth that, whereas, the Trus- 
tees appointed l)y the law esta))lishing the county had not complied ^vith the 
powers given them, John Irwin, Benjamin Davis, Charles Campbell, James 
Pollock and Joseph AVilkins, or any three of them, were authorized and 
empowered to perform the duties recited in the Act of February 26, 1773. 

Divided in the choice of a location, and members being firm in their pref- 
erences, the second board of Trustees was displaced by still another Act of 
the (leneral Assemlily. liearing date of September 13, 1785. At this .stage 
of the contest the advocates of Pittsburg appear to have lost weight with the 
legislative powers. The rivahy then was almost entirely between the resi- 
dents north and those south of the Forbes road. The new statute stated that — 

"Whereas, the seat of justice of Westmoreland hath not heretofore been established 
bylaw, tor want of which the inhabitants labor under great inconveniences, j^*^ it shall 
and may be lawful for Benjamin Davis. Michael Rough, .lohn yhields, John Pomroy and 
Hugh Martin, of the county of Westmoreland, or any three of them, to purchase and 
take assurance in the name of the Commonwealth, of a piece of land, in trust for the use 
of the inhabitants of Westmoreland county: Provided said piece of land be not situated 
further east than the nine-mile rnn. nor further west than Bushy run, further north 
than Loyalhanna, nor further sonth than five miles south of the old Pennsylvania road 
leading to Pittsburg; on which piece of ground said Commissioners shall erect a Court 
House and prison, sufficient to accommodate the public service of the said county." 

It was further directed that the sum to be raised for purchasing the 
ground and erecting the Court House and prison should not exceed £1,000. 
In the meantime a new road was proposed, and, in fact, already in use, be- 
tween Fort Ligonier and Pittsburg, by way of Newtown (Greensburg). It 
was claimed, and rightly so, that this would be more direct than the Forlies 
or old Pennsylvania road. Of the new Tru.stees Benjamin Davis resided in 
Rostraver township, ^Michael Hugh in Heniptield, Hugh Martin in Mt. 
Pleasant, John Shields in Salem and John Pomroy in Derry township. It 
will thus be seen that three of the Trustees lived south of the Forbes road, 

[4] 




and that that part of Westmoreland, in and about Pittsburg, 
had no representative on the board. Within five weeks after 
being empowered, the Trustees viewed the territory pre- 
scribed by the General Assembly. A meeting was held by 
them at Hannastown on November 1 and 2, but no conclusion 
was reached. Another meeting took place in the second 
week of December, at Newtown (Greensburg), and that 



locality determined upon for the seat of justice. Messrs. 
Shields and Pomroy, advocates of Hannastown, dissented, 
and thereafter did not act with the other Trustees. Messrs. 
Davis, Rugh and Martin, constituting a majority of the 
board, however, on December 10, entered into an agreement 
with Christopher Truby and W^illiam Jack, to which Ludwig 
Otterman subsequently became a party, for the purchase of 
two acres of land on which to erect public buildings. Al- 
though the details of the agreement were somewhat changed 
two days later, that date, viz: December 10, 1785, may be 
accepted as the exact or official time of the selection of 
Greensburg as the countyseat of Westmoreland. 




First Court House and Jail at Greensburg. 

No time was lost by the majority of the Trustees in begin- 
ning work on the public buildings. Philip Hartman was 
engaged, within a few days after the agreement for the pur- 
chase of the ground was concluded, to construct the founda- 
tion for the prison. Two months later, in February, 178f>, 
one Anthony Altman entered into a compact to erect the 
Court House, the work being prosecuted under the direct 
supervision of Trustee Michael Rugh. Both the Court 
House and jail were embraced in one building, which was 
composed of logs and heavy boards or plank. The prison 
was in the rear part of the modest temple of justice and 
walled for a distance both below and above ground with 
More than ordinary effort was made in pushing the 



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enterprise. Uy the end of June the public liuildincf or build- 
ings, located on the same site as the present Court House, 
were completed and ready for occupancy. A formal report 
to that effect was made by the Trustees to the court, at the 
ensuing July Term, held at Hannastown. Taking cogni- 
zance of the same, the annexed certificate was formulated 




and signed by the Justices of the Peace named, who were 
likewise Judges of the Court of Common Pleas: 

JUSTICES' CERTIFICATE. 

We, the subscribers, Justices of the Peace, in and for the county 
of Westmoreland, upon receiving a written report from the Trustees 
of said county, informing us that a new Court House and prison was 
erected in Newtown, and that a number of other convenient buildings 
were also erected and open for entertainment, found that we were 
warranted by law in adjourning our courts to the said town; and be- 
ing desirous as soon as possible, to take leave of the many inconven- 
iences and difficulties which attend our situation at Hanna's town, as 
well as to avoid the cost for rent for a very uncomfortable house, in 
which we held our courts, we did, therefore, accordingly adjourn to 
the said town. And we do certify that we found a very comfortable, 
convenient Court House and prison, included in one commodious 
building, together with a number of large commodious houses, open 
for public entertainment, in which we enjoyed great satisfaction dur- 
ing our residence at court. We do further give it as our opinion that 
the situation is good, and possessed of every natural advantage that 
can contribute to the comfort and convenience of an inland town; that 
it is as nearly centrical to the body of the people as any spot that can 
be found possessed of the same advantages; that it lies in direct course 
between Ligonier and Pittsburgh, and will admit of the straitest and 
best road between those two places: that its situation is in the centre 
of the finest and wealthiest settlement in this western country, and 
cannot fail of being supplied with the greatest abundance, upon the 
most reasonable terms; in short, we think the said Trustees have done 
themselves honor in their choice and proceeding through the whole of 
this business. Given under our hands the Kith of August, 1786. 
Hugh Martin, George Wallace, 

Richard Williams, William Jack, 

John Miller. Christopher Truby, 

Alexander Mitchell, George Baird. 

It was not until January, 1787, however, that the first 
regular Quarter Sessions term of court was held in the new 




Court 'House at Greensburg. The following gentlemen en- 
joyed the distinction of serving as jurors on that notable 
occasion : 

Grand Jurors— David Duncan, James Carnahan, John Carnahan, 
John Sloan, Abraham Fulton, Charles Baird, William Best, Nathaniel 
McBrier, Joseph Mann, James Fulton, William Mann, Charles Johns- 
ton, Jacob Huffman, Samuel Sinclair, John Craig* 



^„j»^jjM^^^^ 



Traverse Jurors— Alexander Craig, John McCready, Peter Cherry, 
John Giffen, John Buch, Philip Coons, Patrick Campbell, George 
Swan, Isaac McKendry, Robert McKee, John Anderson, James Wat- 
terson, Lawrence Irwin. 

The term lasted for three days, and the compensation of 
the "good men and true" was five shillings per day. In its 
presentment, at that session, the grand jury reported that 
the jail vpas insufficient and lacking in security to 
hold prisoners. 






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RESIDENCE OF MRS. ADA B. M'CDLLOGH. 
Corner Weet Otterman Street and Harrison Avenue. 



The Trustees Superseded 

Very naturally the selection of Greensburg, as 
the countyseat, was followed by expressions and 
manifestations of dissatisfaction from the oppos- 
ing elements on and north of the Forbes road and 
about Pittsburg. This culminated in a hostile Act 
of the General Assembly, passed December 27, 
1786. By that measure the powers and authority 
given to the Trustees to purchase land and erect a 
Court House and jail were superseded "until the 
Legislature shall further and otherwise direct." 
Moreover, the Trustees were enjoined and requir- 
ed to exhibit their accounts, with proper vouchers, 
of all expenditures made by them, to William 
Moore, Charles Campbell, and James Bryson, who 
were authorized to pass upon said accounts and 
vouchers, which were also to be laid before , the 
Justices and grand jury of the Court of Quarter 



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Sessions. William Moore, of the auditing 
commission, was a resident of Rostraver 




BUSINESS BUILMNO, OWNED BY MR. H. P. 
Main Street. 



township; Charles Campbell, of Wheatfield township, (subsequently embrac- 
ed in Indiana county); and James Bryson, of Pittsburg, making a majority 
from the unfriendly localities. 

Some conception of the feeling prevailing, in the conflict over the location 
of the seat of justice, may be formed from a few extracts from communica- 
tions to the Pittsburg Gazette, at that time the only journal published within 
the far-reaching borders of Westmoreland county. "A Friend of His 
Country," in a letter from Brush Creek, which was presented in the Gazette 
of October 26, 1786, among other things, said: 

"It is well known that the establishment of our present seat of justice was not a hasty, 
rash or inconsiclerate piece of business. Almost sixteen years elapsed since it tirst 
claimed the attention of government; it has been deliberately cniisidcned and cautiously 
conducted: the sense of the people have been generally and reiiratrdly known by peti- 
tion, remonstrance, etc., and in consequence thereof no less than four different Acts of 
the Legislature have been passed to effect and complete its establishment. When we 
reflect upon the many evils which have resulted from the want of such establishment, I 
think we rather ought to congratulate ourselves on the event, and rest perfectly satisfied 
that it is at last fixed anywhere nearly centrical to the body of the people." 

11. }I. Brackenridge, a resident of Pittsburg, and one of the Representa- 

lixes in the Legislature from \A^estmoreland, in an epistle liearing date of 

Philadelphia, December 16, 1786, produced in the Gazette of January 6, 

I7.S7, observed: 

"A bill is published superseding the powers of the Trustees for building a Court House 
and jail in Ureensburg. The object is to prevent any further expenditure of public 
money in public buildings at that place, inasmuch as the Court House and jail already 
erected are sufficient, at least, for a number of years. This appeared to us. the Repre- 
sentatives from Westmoreland, to be sufficient for the present. It must remain with 
future time to determine whether the seat of justice shall be removed or a new county 
erected on the Kiskiminetas. The last, I believe, will be deemed most eligible." 

In the issue of the Gazette of February li), 1787, the following appeared 

from the pen of "A Friend of Westmoreland:" 

"We find by Mr. Brackenridge's late piiblication that the seat of justice in this county 
yet remains an object of envy in our Legislature, as 'A bill is published superseding the 



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powers of the Trustees for buil(\ins a Court 
House and .iail in Greensburg.' I wonder 
when we Khali see an end of the cavilings on 
this subjeft, and the succession of ridiculous 
laws occasioned thereby! By the first law we 
find a number of Trustees appointed for erect- 
ins a Court House and prison, &c. By the 
second law we find their proceeding rejected, 
thoujih perfectly legal, and the former repeal- 
ed, and another set of Trustees appointed, 
with more extensive and conclusive powers. 
A third law approves and confirms their pro- 
ceedings, and a fourth law supersedes their 
powersin the midst of the duty assigned them; 
and, to carry the farce a little further, I 
think the fifth law ought to amount to the 
total annihilation of the county." 



Cost of the First Court House 
and Jail, 

In confoniiity with the requirements 
(rf the Act of Deeemlier 27, 1786, the 
Trustees sulDiiitted their accounts, with 
vouchers. The items were arranged in 
the folhiwing order by the auditors: 

1 3. (1 

No, 1. Cash iiaid Peter Covich tor shingle 

wood ;,■ :■•. ""o ' 

2. Chrislian Myer 105 lbs. o( iron at 8 

penee per lb • -. • ••-■■■■• : i iv u 

3. Jacob Hugh for hauhng boards and _ 

aloucs ' 

1, Jiiioh Hugh for hauling 100 feet of 

boards ••■■•■•■•■■ i " " 

,T I'liiliii Hurlniiin tor underDinning and 
' ■ Blopping the eraeks of plaistcring the 

gaol ,-.■ : '*' ^' " 

6. MnrUn Short for attending masons at 

theiiublick buildings............ ■ 4 1) ■! 

7. ChrislopherTrul)y,Ejq..torboavdsand 

phinli for building Court House 7 l.'S 'J 



9. 
10 

H 

12 

13. 
14. 

13 

16. 

17. 

IS. 
19. 

20. 

21. 

22. 

23. 
21. 



Ferdinand Phini/.y tor a stove for pub- 

licjc use .-■ 11 "0 

Antliony Altnmn for his serviecs in 

building the Court House •.• uO 00 

Conrad Hawli for services done at the 

publick buildings ■--• ,,?.,, 

LudwiekOderman for lath, &c 1 10 

Micliael Truby for lath. &c., for pub- 

lick liuildings ., -■ ■ ■ ■ - ^ I» J 

ThouKis Williams for2000 feet of boards 8 6 o 
Jolianiias Silvevs for blacksmith work. S lb 2 
Pclcr Itugh for hauling timber and _ 

stones ^ 

Samuel isioane for a look for the gaol 

door ••.■ ;•■ 1 « 6 

William Stewart for making a pipe 

and door for a stove i JI X 

naiiicl Williams for lime ■■ 110 

Patrick Campbell for 141 lbs. nails at U 

pence lb y:yv-- ^ ^' ^ 

Adam Bandhieter tor carrying the be- 

fore-mcntioncd nails and a licgg... . ■ - 1 lb u 
Joicph Cook for 521 lbs iron for the 

publick use ■. • — ;■■ 1 la 

Daniel Dornev for making sashes for 

wiurtows, tables and benches fur the 

Court House .......... ,i 1- f. 

Philip .\ltiii:ui tor iiiakmga noorinrhc 

Courl llnusi- 2 19 .5 

Jobaiiiiii^Salliniiii forquarryingstoncs 18 
Mich.iLl Truby for plank to floor the 

n'Tchaei iiiigii. 81 panes of glass furnish- 
ed lor the Court House 4 pence per 
pane ^ *^ 

Robert McConnell for 76 lb--, iron at 8 
pence per lb •,■.■■•;•■ y,- ' V, ■ ■; 2 lo s 

Ludwick Custard lor lime for the Court 
House ;,;■■•■/■■■/■■ ^ 

Bcii.1aniin Davis amt. as a Trustee for 
the county of Westmoreland ^1 "0 

Michael Hugh amount as ditto 8 li b 

Michael Kugh superinlcnding the 
building of the Court Hnilse "? ?S 5 

Hugh Martin amount as I rustce 3 i^ ?. 

,lohn Puniroy's amount as Trustee.... b 00 o 

John Shields' amount as 'I rustee 10 

Total «'S9 87 



Annexed is the account of Micliael 
Hugh against the County of Westmore- 



land for his service in the capacity of a 
Trustee: 

17S5 £ s. d 

Oct. 20. To 3 days viewing the limit of 
ground pointed out by Act of As- 
sembly. 1100 

Nov. 22. To 1 day at meeting at Hanna a 
Town in order to conclude about 
the countyscat 10 

Dec. To 4 days when the eountyseat was 

concluded on by the Trustees and 
agreeing with a man to build the 

1786 prison 2000 

Feb. To 3 days employing a man to build 

the Court House and givingorders 
to the Commissioners to lay the 
tax for defraying the Publick 
nuildings 1 10 

April 8. To 1 day viewing and giving orders 
for h.aulhig stones for to underpin 
gaol 0100 

July Term To 1 day making report to the Court 
the Publick Buildings were ready 
for them 10 

Oct. Term To 1 day attending to laying out 
publick lots and 1 day selling said 
lots .and 7^^ paid for crier lo sell 

1787 the lots 1 7G 

May 31. To 2 day.s sitting with the gentle- 
men appointed by Act of Assembly 

for that purpose 100 

fi 8 17 6 



Sulijoincd is the account of Benjamin 
Da\is as Trustee appointetl liy Act of 
Assembly: 

1785 * s. d. 

Get. 20, To 5 days viewing the limit of 

ground pointed out by Assembly.. 2 10 

Nov. 2. To 2 days at a meeting at Hannah's 
Town in order to conclude about 
the counlyseat 1000 

Dec. To days when the eountyseat was 
conrhuled on by the Trustees and 
cng;iging a man to build the 
Prison 3 00 




Feb. To i days engineering and drawing 
articles with a man to build the 
Court House and giving orders to 
the Commissioners for to lay the 
tax for to defray expenses of the 

Publick Buildings 2000 

To 2 days viewing and prcpnring 
and giving orders for hauling 
stones for to underpin the gaol ... 1 00 
July Term To 3 days making report to the 
Court that the Publick Building 
was ready for them 1 10 



Oct. Term To 3 days attending the laying of 
lots on the Hublick Ground and 

1787 dranghing the same for their use. 

May 31. To 3 days sitting with the gentle- 
men appointedby Act of Assembly 

June 29, To I day at another settlement 1 00 

1784 Dr. for acting in conjunction with the 

former Trustees 1 10 




4 XO 
1 10 



£ 21 00 



Below is the account of Michael Rugh 
for superintending the building of the 
Court House: 

£s d. 

To 1 day when cutting wood for the prison. ... 10 

1 day laying the foundation 10 

5 days hauling the logs 2 10 

1 day impluying the Masons and materials 10 

1 day getting lime 10 

To 3 days attending the .Commissioners getting orders at 

different times 1 10 

1 day providing the shingle trees 10 

3 days providing the iron for the hinges, etc 1 10 

1 day providing nails 10 

1 day imploying a Joiner for to make Tables and Window 
Sashes 10 

11 days attending on the Treasurer to receive money o iO 

2 days getting the Collector,for to get money 1 00 

1 day providing stones 10 

1 day laying the floors 10 

2 days getting boards 1 00 

4 days getting the hands for hauling logs and boards 2 00 

4 days settling with the workmen 2 00 



£22 00 

In its report the auditing commission surcharged 
the Trustees, for various reasons, with £65.. 14.. 4. 
The accounts and exceptions were laid before the 
court and grand jury on July 12, 1787, but the 
Trustees permitted the proceeding to pass without 
protest or being present. 



Superseding Act Repealed 

Much complaint was made by the inhabitants in 
and about Pittsburg of the long distance they 
were compelled to travel to court, both at Hannas- 
town and Greensburg. The active opposition, in 
various forms, of such men as Brackenridge and 






rl 









Brisnn (residents of Pittsburg) to the action of the Trustees, 
in the selection of (ireensliurg as the countyseat, and the 
erection of puljlic buildings there, it is believed, had for its 
main purpose the pa\ing of the way for a new county. Such 
a result followed on September 24, 17S8, when Allegheny 
county was organized. The territory for the same was set 
off from Westmoreland. 




In less than five months thereafter, February 14, 1789, the 
superseding Act was repealed and the Trustees directed to 
proceed in the matter of providing a substantial and perm- 
anent Court House and prison. It was recognized in the pre- 
amble to the repealing Act that the log and plank structure 
was merely intended for temporary purposes, and that only 
aliout one-tifth of the sum originally levied for the express 
purpose of the purchase of ground and construc- 
tion of public liuildings, viz: £1,000, had been ex- 
pended. The remainder was available for the pro- 
posed new and more pretensious buildings now au- 
thorized. 



KESIUEN'OE liK Mil. I'llAliLK: 
North Main Street. 



Sale of the Public Lots. 

A scojie of two acres, of course, ^vas more than 
was needed for the county buildings. However, 
it was evidently the original purpose of the Trus- 
tees, as well as the laudo\vners who virtually 
donated the ground, (the consideration of five 
shillings was merely nominal), that the county prop- 
erty should consist of an entire town square. The 
opposition element maintained that the Trustees 
were not empowered to purchase more land than 
an amount necessary on which to erect public 
buildings. Desiring, no doubt, to minimize all 
cause for contention, and have the cost of the 
structure fall as lightly as possible on the tax- 
payers of the county, the Trustees decided to sell 





Or 


















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Ci 











the surplus ground. 
The two acres were 
divided into ten lots 
by Benjamin Davis; 
one of the Trustees, 
who was also a civil 
engineer. On a day 
in October, 1786, duly 
announced, nine of 
the lots were disposed 
of at public sale. Be- 
low are given the 
names of the pur- 
chasers, with the 
amounts for which 

the lots were sold, ^_^.^^___ 

together with a com- plan of the public lots. 

putation of the sums realized in dollars and cents, based on the modern 
value of the pound (|i.85): 



PUBLIC 
BUILDINGS. 


^I 


crj 


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MAIN STREET. 



No. of Lot. 
1. 



Purchaser's Name. 



Michael Rugh a 3 (,0 11 

Peter Rugh 2 96 

Dewalt Macklin 4 gO 

Peter Rii^h 5 54 

Isaac VVyely 7 5 

William Beuck g 15 

Michael Huffnagle, Esq 9 10 

Joseph Cook g 10 

Jacob Rugh 3 00 



Amount of Sale. 



$14.55 
12.00 
20.86 
25.61 
35.16 
12.44 
43.89 
43 89 
14.55 

£53 2 10 $252.88 

After the sale of the public lots, there was some discussion as to 
whether the authority vested in the Trustees warranted them in taking 

[13] 



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such fiction. To remove all doubt, however, as to the future 
and make the titles adequate and secure, a supplemental 
measure was enacted by the General Assembly on ISIarch 21, 
1795. It provided that the sale of sundry lots of ground, 
made by the Trustees appointed by the Act of September 13, 
178.5, "be, and the said sales are hereby declared to be valid 




for the conveyance of the estate said to be granted by said 
sales, as if by the said recited Act the said Trustees had been 
authorized to sell any part of the piece of ground aforesaid 
to private individuals.'' 




KKSUiKNl F, OF .MR. J. P. ZIMMERMAN. 
North Maple Avenue. 



Greensburg During the Whiskey Insurrection, 

Greensburg was affected by the uprising in resistence to 
the Federal exise law, or as it is historically known, the 
AVhiskey Insurrection, in 1794. Although there were few 
or no persons in direct or active sympathj^ with the move- 
ment, in the town, a number of daring characters in Hemp- 
field township were in full accord with the insurgents. All 
through the southern section of the county, from the Laurel 
Hill to the Forks of the Yough, a still more violent spirit 
prevailed. 

Greensburg being the seat of justice, where the public 
records were kept, and her citizens not evincing a disposition 
to join or aid the insurrection, but rather to deprecate it, an 
ugly feeling was developed against the county town. Threats 
of the organization of banded parties to march to Greens- 
burg for the purpose of committing outrages upon individ- 
uals, mutilating or destroying the public records, and burn- 
ing property, were given currency. So repeatedly and 
persistently were these reports circulated, that they pro- 
duced a feeling of alarm, not only in the town, but, also, 
among law-abiding citizens throughout the county. Accord- 



ingly, toward the latter part of May, the subjoined appeal, 
signed by prominent citizens of various sections of the coun- 
ty, was made to Gen. William Jack, the militia leader for 
Westmoreland: 

Sir: — As attempts have been made to raise an armed force to dis- 
turb the peace of this County and prevent the due Execution of the 
Laws, and an attack has been premeditated to be made on the Town of 




NULL HOUSE, PROPERTY OF LEVI PORTZER. 
' Corner Main and West Otterman Streets. 



Greensburgh, we have thought proper to address you as the Com- 
manding Officer of the Militia on a subject so distressing to the minds 
of all Well disposed Citizens. If such proceedings are not checked in 
their first Career, it is more easy to imagine than to point out the 
Calamities which may be the Consequence. We would be happy to 
have it in our power to say that the disposition to submit to the Laws 
was so prevalent that any extraordinary exertion of Government for 
that purpose and protecting well disposed Citizens in the Enjoyment 
of their Rights and Liberties was unnecessary. Recent examples con- 
vince us to the Contrary. Until that protection can 
be afforded, we are of opinion that besides Voluntary 
associations among such as are well inclined, a Small 
corps of Militia Volunteers, embodied by your direc- 
tion, to be kept in service so long as you shall judge 
the exigency of the case may require, will Essential- 
ly contribute to maintain the peace, and under the 
Civil authority to assist in Suppressing Riots and 
traitorous designs. From the tenor and sentiments 
manifested by the Executive, we make no doubt 
that your Conduct in Calling such a body of men 
into service for a short time will meet with the most 
unequivocal approbation, and the Expense be De- 
frayed out of the publick Treasury. We add to this 
our personal assurance of your being re-imbursed 
any expenses which may be incurred by you as to the 
pay and Rations of the officers and men whom you 
may think proper to call out for the Salutary pur- 
poses above mentioned. 

We are. Sir, your Humble Serv'ts, 

Wm. Pindlev, Timothy Boell, 

Sam'l Porter. John Parker. 

Wm. Todd, Peter Classon. 

Thomas Hamilton, John Contz, 

James Guthrie, John Kirkpatrick, 

James M'Kellip, Ch'r Trdby, 

John Hutoheson, Rob't Williams, 

Peter Tittle, Rob't Taylor, 

John Denniston, Simeon Hovey, 

George Smith, James Perry, 

Robert Bole. Wm. Maghee, 

Jno. Branden, Frederick Rohrer. 

David Beans, Terrence Campbell, 

Conrad Colmeb, Jos. Cook, 

James Hill, Nathan Williams. 



^ 

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'Ji!«, 



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WESTMORELAND NATIONAL BANK Bl'ILDINO. 
Main Street. 



On tlic niffht of July l?ti, the post-boy, en route from Pittsbnrsf to Philintel- 
pliiii. was attacked l)y two meu, a short distance from Grcenshurg:, and the 
ITuited States mail rifled. The purpose of the men was to secure the letters 
being forwarded by the United States officials in and about Pittsburg to the 
Federal authorities in Philadelphia. In this they were successful. All mail 
matter not referring to the insurrection was left undisturbed. The possession 
of the ollicial rejiorts by the insurgents caused the writers thereof to quickly 
and secretly leave Pittsburg anil remain in concealment for some time. Sulise- 
quent investigation developed the fact that the mail robbers were John Mitchell 
and William Bradford, both residents of Washington county. Mitchell was 
arreste<l. tried, convicted and sentenced to be executed. Bradford was indicted. 
Both, however, were pardoned after the insurrection subsided. 

The ai-tion taken liy Gen. William Jack, regarding the appeal made to him 
l)y certain inhal)itauts of the county, will be found in the annexed letter written 

l)v (ien. Jack to Governor Mifflin: 

Greensbcboh. Sepf r 22d. 1704. 

Sir:— I think it my fi\ity to transmit your Excellency an account of the situation of thi.s 
Coxinty at the present crisis, anil the motives which induced me to call into service a small 
corps of Militia, to assist in preserving Peace, and warding off any attack on the County 
Town. Where the public Records are kept, and in which the adjoining Counties are inter- 
ested as well as this. 

Untill the Disturbances took place, soon after the arriv.al of the Federal Marshall, the 
people of this County, altho' generally averse to the Duty on Spirits, thoiight very little 
aliout it. and I have reason to presum many of the principal Distillars would have entered 
rather than snb.iected themselves to a prosecution, tlie flame was soon communicated, and 
many from different views rather encouraged opposition than otherwise, whilst those who 
failed of other reasons made use of threats, to accomplish their views. The enclosed paper, 
sent to a Distiller in this county, shows the mode of Invitation from Washington; but there 
is reason to suppose that open as well as deseguised menaces of burning. &c., had the great- 
est effect in collecting the small number that went from Westmoreland to Braddock's tield. 

The vigorous measures proposed by Government, as well as the .iust fears of all good 
citizens, and the danger to persons ami property, all had their effect in allaying the ferment. 
The people, however, revolted at the Idea of .siibmitting to the Law complained of. as settled 
with the commissioners met at Pittsburg, Considerable pains was used at this place to pro- 

[16] 



=11 



Ky0 





cure- the signing required, and I firmly believe but for the steady 
countenance and determination of a few among us, no signing at ail 
would have taken place. The Germans who are thick settled in this 
Neighborhood, being from ignorance of our Language, more easily 
imposed upon, were extreamly unwilling, and even shewed a disposi- 
tion which I did not expect from those habits of Industry to which 
they are used. 

On the 11th inst.. the day fixed, only abotit 80 came forward to sign 
out of several hundreds met; frequent attempts were made by some to 




intimidate and create mischief; at length some of the ringleaders at- 
tempted to snatch the papers in order to destroy them, but were pre- 
vented. Those who were known to have signed have been more or 
less threatened ever since, by a set of worthless fellows. 

An association was set on foot in the Town, the 13th Instant, for 
protection and mutual safety, and was generally agreed to even by 
some of those who did not like the declaration, to submit to the Laws. 
On the 16th, being assured of an attempt, set on foot by a Lieut. Straw, 
to raise a party to come to Town with the pretense of getting the 
papers, I thought it most advisable to issue a Warrant, and 
Committed him to lioal. 

Being joined by a Number of friends to peace from the 
country, I went with a party of about 50 men to a House 
where the said Straw's party was to collect, about a mile 
from Town, Where we found about 30 persons who Declared 
in favor of peace, and not finding some of those among them 
who had been the most active, we thought it best to be satis- 
fied with their assurances. 

To put a Check to further Combinations of this kind, it 
was deemed expedient (on a consultation among the citizens 
of the Town, and some who had come from the coimtry, Par- 
ticularly Mr. Findley and Mr. Porter) to have a party raised 
to be ready on any Emergency. In consequence I have given 
Instructions for calling out a Lieut, and 30 Volunteers Militia 
to rendevouze here this week. The number to be augmented, 
if occasion requires; but I hope this will not be necessary — 
the more especially as the Troops ordered by the Executive 
are now supposed to be on their March. 

For your Excellency's satisfaction I transmit yon a copy 
of the Letter from the Citizens to me, and at the same time 
request your sanction to the measure I have undertaken. 
I am, Sir, your Excellency's Most obed. Humble Serv't, 

Wm. Jack. 
The subsequent course pursued by the citizens of 
this locality, in connection with the effort to re- 
establish respect for the law and restore order, is set 
forth in the following: 

At a meeting of the inhabitants of the Town of Greens- 
burgh and Township of Hempfield, in the county of West- 
moreland, on Wednesday, the 22d of October, 1794, convened 



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for the purpose of giving to the deputies who are to meet iit Parkin- 
son's Ferry on the 2-lth inst. , such unequivocal assurances of their dis- 
position for submission to the laws, as would enable them to propose 
and adopt such measures on their behalf as would be decisive in mani- 
festing their sincere regret for and abhorrence of the late violent 
measures, and of their firm deteruiination to support and yield obedi- 
ence to the constitutional laws of their country. The following resolu- 
tions were proposed and adopted; 

1. liesulced, as Vie sense of this meeting. That it is the duty of every 




sU)1..\ll .v.Mj office of dr. t. f. cole. 
South Pennsylvania Avenue. 



[13] 



gooil i.'itizen to yield obedience to the existing laws of his country. 

3. Jti-sclrril. Th:it we disci luntpuance all illegal acts of violence, from 
whatever motive, and that for redress of grievances, the privilege and 
right of the citizen is to petition and remonstrate if necessary. 

3. Resolved, That we will support the civil authority and all ofBcers 
in the legal exercise of their respective duties, and assist in securing 
for legal tiial. all oifenders against the laws, when called upon. 

4 liesoli-eil. That the citizens of this town and township will give 
no opposition to the opening an office of Inspection therein, should the 
same be contemplated by the government, and that we will 
use our endeavors to remove improper prejudices, and recom- 
mend a peaceable and general submission. 

.5. Resohmi, That a copy of the preceding resolutions be 
given to one or more of the deputies for the town or township 
who are to meet at Parkinson's ferry, on Friday, the 34th 
inst.. together with a copy of the assurance paper, signed by 
the citizens of this meeting, in order that the same may be 
laid before the members of the said committee, and that an- 
other copy be made out for publication in the Pittsburgh 
(tiiziiti-. .ind that the same be attested by the chairman and 
clerk of this meeting, 
A true copy. 

DAVID MABCHAND, Chairman. 
Attest: 

Thom-is Hamilton, Clerk. 



We. the undersigned citizens of the town of Greensburgh 
& township of Henipfield, in the county of 'Westmoreland, 
being desirous of living in peace and of adopting such meas- 
ures as appear to us most likely to ensure the same in future, 
as well as to promote the real interests of the country, do 
severally promise, engage and certify that we will support, 
when leg.ally called upon, the civil atithority and all officers 
in the due execution of their respective powers under the laws 
of the land, .and give our assistance in bringing to legal trial 
all offenders against the laws; and further, that if an office of 
inspection for the entering of stills, &c,, is opened in the said 
town or township or in any other part of the same coiinty, 
that we will give all necessary support in protecting the same 
against violence; and such of us as are distillers and design 
continuing in the same employment promise to enter the .same 



when such office shall be opeiied, and that we will nse onr endeavors 
to defeat all combinations having for object the disturbance of the 
public peace and opposition to the laws aforesaid. In witness we have 
hereunto set our hands this twenty-second day of October in the year 
of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four. 
A true copy. 

DAVID MARCHAND, Chairman. 
Attest: Thomas Hamilton, Clerk. 




N. B. — The above assurance or certificate was signed in the course 
of the evening by four hundred and twenty citizens, and it is expected 
the same, or something similar, will be entered into and subscribed in 
the other townships of the county of Westmoreland; in some parts of 
the same a similar assurance has been given, and in all it is expected a 
compliance will take place immediately. 

On the return homeward starting from Pittsburg, the New 
Jersey and Pennsylvania divisions of the array, sent against 
the insurgents, pursued two routes. Some of the 
troops traversed the soutlieru section of this coun- 
ty. The first division, embracing the Pennsyl- 
vania cavalry, and acting as an escort to Governor 
Mifflin, passed through Greensburg, on Thursday, 
November 20. On the preceding night this part 
of the army encamped two miles west of Greens- 
burg, at a place designated as the "Dutchman's." 
Forty Fort Fayette garrison soldiers, under com- 
mand of an ensign, reached Greensburg on the 
evening of November 27, from Pittsburg, with 
seventeen prisoners. Of those in custody, nine 
were citizens of Washington county, six of Alle- 
gheny, one of Fayette and one of Ohio county, 
Va. On their arrival, the prisoners were lodged 
in the county jail, where three other persons sus- 
pected of being in sympathy with the insurgents, 
were already incarcerated. On the morning of 
November 29, the twenty accused persons were 
brought forth, paraded about the streets of Greens- 
burg through mud and snow, and delivered into 
the charge of Major James Durham, in command 



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of a detachment of cavalry. S\ibseqncntly the suspects wei'e 
started on a very weary march to Philadelphia, each prisoner 
on foot between two of the guard, with drawn swords, on 
horseback. It may be here added that, after being imprison- 
ed in Philadelphia for months, some for longer and some 




shorter periods, all were acquitted or discharged, there be- 
ing no incriminating evidence against them. 

There is a local tradition that Gen. George Washington, 
who was then President of the United States, visited Greens- 
burg during the insurrection. It is founded, however, on 
error. President Washington started for Western 
Pennsylvania, on that occasion, liut proceeded no 
farther than Bedford, thence returning to the seat 
of government. United States District Attorney 
William Rawle and the United States Commission- 
ers, however, made their headquarters at Greens- 
burg for a time during the troublous days of 1794. 
Disorderly persons, one night, threw a stone 
through a second-story window of the hotel where 
the Federal officials were lodged. The guilty 
parties were arrested and punished. 

In the year named, when the fury of the insur- 
rection broke forth, there were sixteen distilleries 
ill Ilemptield township. A number of them were 
situated in the vicinity, but only one, so far as 
diligent search reveals, was located within the 
limits of Greensburg. That one was "on the 
square of the public spring" (the southeast corner 
of \Vest Pitts))urg Street and JMaple Avenue). By 
whom the distillery was owned in 1794 is not 
known to the writer. In 1799 and 1800, however, 
it was the property of John and James McCaskey. 
In addition to two stills it embraced "a complete 




^m 



brewery." The main building was a stone structure, and, 
connected with it, were several suljstantial outbuildings. 

One morning in the middle of February, 1799, the citizens 
of Greensburg were much disturbed by grave apprehensions. 
They feared that the spirit of the insurrection was about to 
be revived. Between midnight and early morning a whiskey 




pole had been erected in front of the house of John Wells, 
the excise officer, who resided on North Main Street. On 
the pole was a placard containing the following: 

"Tom the Tinker, author. Liberty and no excise and no 

stamp act. Mr. Wells, you are a cheating 

very vile epithet). Huzza for lilserty and no excise and no 
stamp act. This pole is erected by Tom the Tinker, 
— . and whoever cuts it down or demolishes it, shall 
have his house torn down and demolished. The 
Father is gone to the Grand Father, and will come 
again and bring with him twenty thousand men. 
In the year 1799." 

Leading citizens of the town, after careful con- 
sideration, on the morning of its discovery, deter- 
mined to cut the pole down, which was promptly 
done. A rigid investigation as to the authors of 
the outrage was likewise instituted. Persons who 
had been in the vicinity or passed Mr. Wells' 
house, at various times up until midnight, came 
forward and stated that the pole had not yet been 
erected at that hour. The inquiry revealed the 
fact that the guilty parties were not residents of 
the town, but had come from a distance. No ar- 
rests were made but a vigilant watch was kept by 
citizens at night for several weeks thereafter to 
prevent the threatened destruction of property. 
Persons were much perplexed to construe or ad- 
vance a satisfactory theory as to the significance of 
the expression: "The Father is gone to the Grand 






'm 




Father and will come nwain and brino; with him twenty thousand men." 
Ry some it was thought to imply that international complications were 
being- fomented, and that British assistance or the aid of French revolu- 
tionists, active shortly before, had been solicited and promised for a 
new uprising. Although no overt or open acts of a lawless character 
occurred, it was some time before the disquietude of the citizens of 
(ireensburg was entirely dispelled. 



m 



THE KEAGGY THEATRE BUILDING. 
West Ottornian Street. 



Greensburg Incorporated as a Borough. 

Perhaps the most notable period in Greensburg's history, in the way 
of advancement, was 1799. In that year, so close to the dawn of the 
new century, the town was incorporated as a borough, the first news- 
paper was established, a handsome new Court House and jail were in 
course of erection, and a public market house built. The Act of the 
General Assembly conferring upon the countyseat the dignity of a Ijor- 
ough, was approved February 9, 1799. In recent years this statute has 
been more commonly referred to as "the old charter." It embodies .so 
much of historic interest, that it is reproduced below, in full, from a 
certified transcript of the original Act: 

•TnE OLD CHARTER. 

.'\n Act to erect the town of Greenesburgh, in the county of AVestmore- 
and, into a borough. 

Section I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, 
and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same. That the town 

[23] 




of Greenesburgh, in the county of Westmoreland, shall be, 
and the same is hereby, erected into a borough, which shall 
be called the borough of Greenesburgh, and shall be comprised 
within the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at a white 
oak corner in William Jack's land, by a line running north 
twenty degrees east thirty-three perches, to William Best's 
land; thence west along said line of William Best one hundred 
and seven perches and a half, to a post on George Oderman's 




^m 



RESIDENCE OF MR. SAMUEL ALWINE, SR. 
Corner East PittslDurg Street and Alwine Avenue. 



land; thence by land of said George Oderman and Back-street 
south sixteen degrees east twenty-eight perches, to a post ad- 
joining said Oderman's land and a lot of William Barnes; 
thence south seventy-four degrees west twelve perches, to a 
post ajoining said Oderman's land and William Barnes' lot; 
thence by land of said George Oderman south sixteen degrees 
east fourteen perches to a post; thence south seventy-four de- 
grees west twenty-four perches to a post; thence by land of 
said George Oderman south sixteen degrees east 
thirty-three perches to a post; thence north seventy- 
four degrees east eleven perches to a post, adjoining 
James Watterson's land; thence by land of the said 
James Watterson and James Guthrie south sixteen 
degrees east eighty-eight perches to a post; thence by 
land of James Guthrie south eighty -two degrees east 
forty-four perches to a post; thence by land of Robert 
Williams, Christopher Truby and William Jack, north 
thirteen degrees east one hundred and forty-one 
perches, to the place of beginning. 

Section II. And be it further enacted by the 
authority aforesaid, That the freemen of the said 
borough, who shall have resided within the same six 
months, and shall in other respects be entitled to vote 
for Members of the General Assembly of this Com- 
monwealth, shall, on the first Monday of May next, 
and on that day in every year thereafter, meet to- 
gether at the court-house in the said borough, and 
then and there choose, by ballot, two reputable free- 
holders, inhabitants of said borough, to be Burgesses, 
and three reputable persons to serve as Assistants, 
for advising, aiding and assisting the said Burgesses 
in the execution of the powers and authorities hereby 
given them; and also to elect a High Constable and a 



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BUSINESS BUILDING OF MESSRS. SHIELDS, PAINTER & SLOAN. 
West Second Street. 



Town Clerk; all and every of which persons shall be residents in the said 
liorou2:h, and shall lie duly qualified to elect as aforesaid, and the person 
which shall have the greatest number of votes for Burgess shall be called 
Chief Burgess. 

Section III. And be it further enacted l)y the authority aforesaid, 
That the election for the officers aforesaid shall lie holden in the following 
manner, to wit: the Constable of the town of Greenesburgh for the 
present year, and the High Constable so as aforesaid elected or appointed, 
in the manner hereinafter mentioned in every succeeding year, shall give 
notice of such election at least six days before the time ajjpointed for hold- 
ing the same, by advertisement set lip at six or more of the most pul)lic 
places within tlie said borough; and at the election to be holden the present 
year, the Town Constalsle and two reputable freeholders, to be chosen liy 
the electors of the said borough for that purjjose, and at every succeeding 
election the Burgesses and Assistants shall hold the said election, receive 
and count the ballots, and declare the persons duly elected; whereupon 
duplicate certificates of the persons so elected shall lie signed in the 
present year by the two freeholders chosen as aforesaid, and in every_ suc- 
ceeding election by the said Burgesses, one whereof shall lie transmitted 
to the Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions of the county, within twenty 
days after the said election, and the other tiled among the records of the 
corporation; and at any election held as above directed, should the two 
persons highest in the vote for Burgesses have an equal number of votes, 
the next Court of Quarter Sessions shall declare who shall be the Chief 
Hiirsjess: and if it shall at any time so happen, through neglect or other- 
wise, that no election shall lie holden on that day, or in the mode herein 
prescril)ed, it shall be lawful for the court of Quarter Sessions, and it is 
hereby required forthwith to apjioint the Burgesses, Assistants, High 
Const'alile and Town Clerk aforesaid, who shall thereupon be fully in\'est- 
ed with the power and authorities to their respecti\'e offices appertaining, 
and the Burgesses and other ofhcers so appointed or elected shall hold and 
execute theii' respective offices until the first ^Monday in May next ensuing 
their appointment or election, or until others shall be duly elected or ap- 
pointed in their stead. 




Section IV. And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid, That the Burgesses and Assistants so chosen, or a 
majority of them, shall have full power and authority to 
make such ordinances, rules and regulations, as may be 
necessary for improving and keeping in order the streets and 




alleys within the said borough, and removing nuisances or 
obstructions therefrom, and the same to annul, alter or make 
anew, as occasion may require, and also to assess, levy and 
collect a tax for the said purposes and shall have all other 
powers necessary for the well ordering and Ijetter govern- 
ment of the said borough: Provided, That the said ordinances, 
rules or regulations, shall not be repugnant to the consti- 
tution and laws of this commonwealth. And provided also, 
That no tax shall be laid by them, in any one year, to ex- 
ceed one cent in the dollar on the valuation of taxable 
property taken from the last assessment, until the same is 
agreed to by a majority of the electors at the town-meet- 
ing assembled for that purpose, called together by the said 
Burgesses and Assistants, or by a request in writing of at 
least six of the inhabitants of said liorough, duly qualified 
to elect as aforesaid, to the said Burgesses, who shall re- 
quire the High Constable to give five days' notice of such 
intended town-meeting, by advertisements fixed up in not 
less than six of the most public places, within the said 
)orough, notifying the time, place, and object of the said 
town-meeting; and all taxes which may be assessed or laid 
within tlie said borough shall, as near as the same is 
practicable, be conformable to the laws for raising county 
rates and levies. 

Section V. And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid. That the said Burgesses and freemen, duly 
qualified to elect as aforesaid, and their successors forever 
hereafter, shall be one body politic and corporate, in and 
liy the name of "The Burgesses and Inhabitants of the 
borough of Greenesburgh, in the county of Westmoreland," 
shall have perpetual succession, and they and their suc- 
cessors, by the name of the Burgesses and inhabitants of 
the borough of Greenesburgh, shall, at all times hereafter, 



m 







Ije persons able and capable in law to have, get, receive and possess lands, 
tenements, rents, lilierties, jurisdictions, franchises and hereditaments, to 
them and their successors, in fee simple, or for term of lives, life, years, or 
otherwise; and also goods and chattels, and other things of what nature or 
kind soever; and also to give, grant, let, sell and assign the same lands, tene- 
ments, hereditaments, goods and chattels, and to do and execute all other 
things about the same, by the name aforesaid; and they shall forever be per- 
sons able and capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, and 
answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended, in all or any courts 
within this commonwealth, in all manner of actions, suits, complaints, pleas, 
causes, and matters whatsoever; and that it shall and may be lawful to and 
for the said Burgesses and inhabitants aforesaid, and their successors forever 
hereafter, to have and to use one common seal, for sealing all business what- 
soever touching the said corporation, and the same from time to time, at 
their will, to change and alter; and the said Burgesses and Assistants 
shall have full power to appoint such other officers within the said borough, 
as shall be necessaiy to carry into complete efl'eet the provisions of this act. 

Section VI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That 
it shall and may be la\vful for the said Burgesses and Assistants to lay off a 
portion or piece of ground, on the square of the said borough, lying south 
and east of the public gaol, sufficient in extent for the purpose of erecting a 
market-house; and it shall and may lie lawful to extend the said market-house 
eight feet on the street leading to Pittsburgh, if it be found necessary: Pro- 
vided always. That eight feet at least shall be left between the said market- 
house and the public liuildings. 

Section VII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That 
if any person, or inhabitant of the said liorough, and duly cjualitied to elect 
as aforesaid, shall he elected to the office f)f Burgess, and, having notice of 
his election, shall refuse to undertake and execute that office, every person 
so refusing shall forfeit and pay a fine of twenty dollars; and if any person, 
duly qualified as aforesaid, shall be duly elected to any other office in the 
said l)orough, created liy this act, and, having notice of his election, shall re- 
fuse to undertake and execute the duties of that office, every person so ref us- 




ing shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten dollars; which fines 
and forfeitures, and all others in pursuance of this act, or of 
the bye-laws of the said Burgesses and inhabitants, shall be 
recovered before the acting Burgess, or any Justice of the 
Peace of that county, for the use of the said Corporation; and 
in any such case of refusal, the acting Burgesses shall issue 




their process direct to the High Constable, requiring him to 
hold an election for the choice of some other fit person or 
persons, in the stead of such as shall refuse: Provided always. 
That if any person or persons shall conceive him or them- 
selves aggrieved by the judgment of the Burgesses, or any 
Justice, by virtue of this act, he or they may appeal to the 
next county court of Common Pleas, who shall, on the peti- 
tion of the party, take such order therein, as to them shall 
appear just and reasonable, and the same shall be conclusive 
to all parties. 

Section VIII. And be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid, That the Chief Burgess shall take and subscribe an 
oath or afiirmation before one of the Associate Judges, or a 
Justice of the Peace for the county of Westmoreland, to 
support the constitution of the United States and of this 
state, and on oath or affirmation well and truly to execute 
the office of Chief Burgess of the borough of Greenesburgh 
and when so qualified, he shall administer an oath or affirma- 
tion to the other Burgess, Assistants, High Constable and 
Town Clerk, in manner and form aforesaid, before they shall 
enter on the duties of their respective offices. 

Cadwalader Evans, Junior, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Robert Hare, 
Speaker of the Senate. 
Approved February the ninth, 1799. 

Thomas Mifflin, 
Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 

Although the Act of incorporation ■ was approved Febru- 
ary 9, 1799, a borough government was not organized or in- 
augurated until the first Monday in May, of that year. On 
that day, in conformity with the law, the qualified electors 



WM 



m 




of the town, of whom there were 82, met at the Court House and bestow- 
ed the honor of being the first officials of the new borough upon the 
gentlemen named: 

Chief Burgess — George Armstrong, Esq. 

Burgess — Simon Drum. 

Assistant Burgesses — Jacob Hugus, Eobert Cooper, Thomas McGuire. 

Town Clerk — John Morrison. 

High Constable — Alexander Stewart. 

Biographical sketches of the men who were deemed worthy of this mark 
of confidence from their fellow-citizens, a century ago, are subjoined: 

George Armstrong enlisted as a private in the Revolutionary war in 
that famous Westmoreland organization, the Eighth Regiment, Continental 
Line; subsequently he became a Sergeant in Capt. Nehemiah Stokely's 
company, and served throughout the war. He was Inspector of the First 
Brigade, Thirteenth Division, Pennsylvania militia, with the rank of 
Major, in the war of 1812. Major Armstrong was admitted as an attor- 
ney at the Westmoreland Bar on March 11, 1703. He acquired a large 
practice, especially in the line of conveyancing and titles. From Novem- 
)er, 1819, to October, 1822, John Y. Barclay, Esq., was associated with 
him as a partner. In 1815 Major Armstrong was one of the Directors of 
the Westmoreland Bank. He was married to Anna, a daughter of Dr. 
John McDowell, of Allegheny county. While ^Major Armstrong enjoyed 
the distinction of first Chief Burgess of Greensburg borough, he resided 
on the northwest side of First Street, now West Pittsburg Street. In 
February, 182(5, he removed to Pittsburg, where he spent the balance of 
his life. Before departing he transferred his papers and business to 
James Findley, Esq. 

[28] 



Simon Drum located within the limits of Westmoreland 
county as early as 1777. He was one of the first residents 
of Greensburg, or when it became the countyseat. In 1790 
Mr. Drum purchased the lot on the southwestern corner of 
Main and West Pittsburg Streets, known as No. 58 in the 




original plan of the town (now the site of the Fisher House) 
from the first owner, Christopher Truby. He there erected 
a very substantial stone building (part of which is still em- 
bodied in the existing structure), and, for a number of years, 
conducted a noted and successful inn or tavern. Mr. Drum 
was a public-spirited and enterprising citizen. To- 
gether with the members of his family, he took an 
active interest in promoting the religious and educa- 
tional welfare of the young town. He died October 
23, 1822, aged 71 years. 

Jacob Hugus was of Huguenot descent. He set- 
tled in Greensburg several years before its incorpora- 
tion. Mr. Hugus was a clockmaker by occupation. 
As an evidence of his excellent skill in that line, it 
may be stated that some of the quaint old clocks man- 
ufactured by him, one hundred years ago, are still 
owned by citizens of Greensburg and keeping correct 
time. Although not possessed of an advanced educa- 
tion, Mr. Hugus was a man of exceptional intelli- 
gence and mechanical ingenuity. Besides making 
clocks, for a number of years he also manufactured 
carding machines. In 1815 he invented and patented 
a greatly improved wool and cotton carding machine, 
which effected a much-desired saving in the down and 
fine particles of the wool and cotton during the pro- 
cess of cleaning. A number of other notable mechan- 
ical devices were designed by him. Mr. Hugus 



m 



erected the first steam mill (so far as known) west of the 
Allegheny mountains. It was completed and put in opera- 
tion in the autumn of 1822. Not only was it a grist mill, but 
in it were also carried on carding, spinning, weaving, fulling 
and dyeing. The mill was located one mile southeast of 



r 

to 




UUblNESS BUILDING OF MR. JOHN F. MITINGER. 
Main Street. 



[30] 



Greensburg on the site of what is now known as "Kistler's 
mill." In 1798 Mr. Hugus owned the lot on the northwest 
corner of West Pittsburg Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. 
He died January 28, 1835, in the 67th year of his age. 

Robert Cooper was the only resident 
master carpenter in Greensburg in 1799. At 
that time his place of residence was on East 
Otterinan Street, south of or "opposite the 
Borough School House."' j\Ir. Cooper was a 
private in Capt. Joseph Markle's troop of 
Light Dragoons, attached to the northwestern 
army, under command of Gen. William 
Henry Harrison, in the war of 1812. Some 
time after the close of that struggle, he re- 
mox'ed to North Huntingdon township, where 
he resided until his death, February 7, 1827. 

Thomas McGuire was a citizen of Greens- 
burg more than ten years prior to its incor- 
poration as a borough. He was among the 
early merchants of the place. In 1799 Mr. 
McGuire was engaged as an inn-keeper, his 
tavern lieing located in "Watterson's 
]ncadow," which was on the west side of the 
town in the locality now known as Pennsyl- 
vania Avenue. He was one of the Trustees 
named in the Act of Assembly incorporating 
the Greensburg Academy in 1810. Dui'ing 




the years 1814, 1815 and 1816 he held the ofBce of County 
Treasurer, that official then being elected annually by the 
County Commissioners. Mr. McGuire died in 1817. 

John Morrison was a leading merchant in Greensburg 
prior to and for a number of years after the incorporation of 




the borough. He was Prothonotary and Clerk of the Courts 
for nine years terminating in 1817. In 1820 he tilled the 
office of County Treasurer. Mr. Morrison's place of resi- 
dence was on Main Street, his property adjoining the Court 
House lot on the north, the site now being occupied by the 
handsome Barclay office building. It is an interest- 
ing fact that his son. Dr. John Morrison, performed 
the duties of Town Clerk continuously from 1822 to 
1840. William S. Graham, editor of The Farmers' 
Register, from 1808 to 1815, was a son-in-law of John 
Morrison. The latter died on January 7, 1821, aged 
71 years. 

Alexander Stewart was a son of Archibald 
Stewart, one of the pioneers of the countytown. The 
Stewarts, father and son, were butchers. At the time 
he had conferred upon him the honor of being the 
first High Constable of Greensburg borough, Alex- 
ander Stewart resided at and conducted his business 
on the west side of North Main Street, at a point 
midway between Otterman and Tunnel Streets. Mr. 
Stewart was e^adently a prudent and successful busi- 
ness man, as he acquired considerable property with- 
in the borough limits. 



Market Houses, 

One of the first and most important acts of the bor- 
ough officials, after entering upon their duties, was 
the erection of a public market house. It was located 



m 



f^ 



at the corner of Main and West Pittsburg (then First) Streets, 
occupying what is now the sidewalk, on the south side of the 
Court House. The building was 40 feet in length and 14 
feet in width. There were six pillars, eleven feet high and 
two feet square, on each side. The open space between the 




RESIDENCE OF MR. JOHN S. MURPHEY 

North Main Street. 



pillars was five and one-half feet. The foundation was com- 
posed of stone masonry and the balance of the structure of 
brick. It was covered by a shingle roof, which projected 
six feet and formed an "overshoot." The building was com- 
pleted in October, 1799. An ordinance enacted by the 
Burgesses, directed that "Wednesdays and Saturdays shall 
be market days in the borough." Venders, who occupied the 
stalls for the sale or purchase of produce, meat, etc. , were re- 
quired to conclude their transactions by 9 o'clock a. m. . in 
the summer, and 10 o'clock a. m. , in the winter. Buying or 
selling after the prescribed hours, on conviction, subjected 
the guilty person to a tine of fifty cents for each offense. 

The market house was torn down when the present Court 
House was erected (1854). What is now West Pittsburg 
Street, in the first quarter of the present century, was often 
called Market Street, because of the location of the market 
house thereon. That point (the site of the old market house) 
has always been regarded as the centre, or most public 
place, in the borough, and, in the olden days, as at present, 
was selected by the ash-pile, store-box and curb-stone orators 
as the spot for the delivery of their discourses. Some years 
after the razing of the old market house, a new one was 
erected on the southwest corner of Second Street and Penn- 
sylvania Avenue. It soon fell into disuse, however, and, in 
1874, was demolished to make way for an opera house, erect- 
ed by William S. Naly. Two years later the opera house 
was destroyed by fire. 




Residents of Greensburg in 1799. 

Prior to its incorporation Greensburg had always been in- 
cluded in the assessment of Hempfield township. According- 
ly, the first distinctive assessment of the borough was made 
in the year 1800. Isaac Waggle was the Assessor, and 
Michael Byerly and William Friedt Assistant Assessors. 




They were Hempfield township officials, those for the borough 
not yet having been elected. The rates of taxation were as 
follows: 

Land — First rate, S2.00; second rate, §1.50; third rate, 
§1.00; fourth rate, 50 cents. 

Horses, Cow Creatures, Etc. — Hallions, §30.00; mares and 
geldings, SlO.OO; cows and steers, $5.00. 

Mills, Etc. — Grist mills, first rate, ^liO. 00; grist mills, 
second rate, §90.00; saw, oil and fulling mills, first rate, 
§40.00; saw, oil and fulling mills, second rate, §30.00. 

Trades — First rate, gunsmith, hatter, painter, copper- 
smith, clockmaker, silversmith, tanner, millwright, cabinet- 
maker, §100.00; second rate, wheelwright, blacksmith, nailor, 
wagonmaker, plasterer, mason, carpenter, saddler, joiner 
skin dresser, potter, §75.00; third rate, barber, baker, tailor, 
brickmaker, weaver, shoemaker, butcher, §50.00. 

Posts of Profit and Profitable Occupations — Prothonotary 
and Sheriff, §400; Kecorder and Collector of Excise, $200; 
Judge and Treasurer, §100; attorneys and doctors, §200. 

Miscellaneous — Slaves, §30; tanyards, §60; stores, §150; 
stills, first rate, §25: stills, second rate, §15; taverns, first 
rate, §100: taverns, second rate, §75. 

In-lots are mostly rated at §20; out-lots, near the town, are 
rated where the quantity of acres are known, at §7 per a<;re. 
Such as are far off are rated at §5 per acre. Houses, etc., are 
rated individually. 

Horebach, Drum and Johnston's are counted first rate 
taverns, the rest are all second rate. Single men that are 






m 






1^^ 





F.v.\.\<;ri.h \i. 1. 1 imi:i;an ( }iri:< ii 

Soutli .Alain yircct. 
Building. Log. 1795: 2d. 1815; 3d, 1883. 



rated for a trade or occupation are not 
rated for being single men. Single men 
Avlio jire not charged with a trade or oc- 
cupation are rated at JjlOO. 

A c(>ni})lete list of the names, occupa- 
tions and total valuation of the taxable 
inhabitants under the first borough as- 
sessment, is herewith presented: 

Armstrong, George, attorney • S 832 

Armstrong;. Joseph, Avheehvright 

Brown. Robert, merchant 

Beaty, Robert, merchant 

Brownslon, Asa, hatter 

Brady, James, innkeeper 

Bai_on. Daniel, nailor 

CoultiM-, Mrs. PrJscilla, widow 

Coulter, Henry, merchant 

Crocket. Andrew, young man 

Cojie. WiUiani, plasterer 

Collins. Daniel 

Codciman, George, wagonmaker 

Crisiman, George, barber 

Cooper. Robert, carpenter 

Cook. Joseph 

Dickey. Robert, merchant 

Drum, Simon, innkeeper 

Drum, Philiij. young man 

Kwin^. Adam, merchant 

Km mitt, Samuel, landlord ■ 

Kow kr. John, joiner 

Fleincr. John, blacksmitii 

Flcc^^L-r. Peter, blacksmith ... 

Fricdi, William, young man 

Graham. Kobert. shoemaker 

. Niithaniel, merchant 315 



2-10 
430 
7(>4 
140 
330 
155 
388 
loO 
100 
180 
190 

80 
100 
230 
486 
430 
1026 
100 
365 
280 

75 
105 
225 

2;i0 

235 



(lianas, Knos, joiner. 

HaiMia. John, saddler 

UatniUon, Thomas, Prothonotary . 

llili. John, tailor-. 

H 

H 

n 
II 



lnuli. Peter, innkeeper 

Tliomas, merchant 

, Wiiliain. tailor 

-;. .bi.uh. clockmaUer 

i, William, brickmaker... 

lliiii~.M-. John, aged man 

I hii-.i I'lcr, widow 

Ihiur.s. Bernard, barber 

Hai wick, Joseph, wheelwright 
Jameson. John, wheelwright.. . 

[34] 



125 

255 
656 
120 
745 
4-t5 
260 
3t0 
1110 
225 
30 
80 
100 
135 



Johnston, Alexander, innkeeper $ 520 

Kirkpatrick, John, ex-mcrchant 270 

Keller. Daniel, saddler 155 

Kuhns. John. Sheriff 972 

Kerns, John, hatter 490 

Lukins, Thomas, cabinet-maker 250 

Lutz, Godfrey, bakur 100 

Michly, Daniel, tailor 50 

Morrison. John, merchant 265 

McCorkle, William, printer 100 

McCleland, John, weaver 120 

Marshal, John, innkeeper 305 

Morrow, Paul, attorney 515 

McKeehan, David, attorney 270 

McOuirc, Thomas, innkeeper 359 

IMurfoni, Lfwifl, shoemaker 135 

Mct'ully. Ami row, copper and tinsmith 100 

McKce, Samuel, .iourneyman tanner 100 

McGaughey. Daniel, laborer 100 

McLaughlin, Joseph 35 

McRanaghau, W'iUiam. shoemaker 50 

Mahon, Barney, shoemaker 50 

McCaskey, John, mason 205 

McCaskey, James, mason 75 

Postlewaith. James, doctor 465 

Painter, Jacob 30 

Rohrer, Frederick, merchant 411 

Rohrer, George JiO 

Ryan, George, coppersmith 100 

Stewart, John, butcher 60 

Snowden, John M., printer 265 

Stewart. Alexander, butcher 65 

Sliaefer, John, merchant 425 

Stewart. Nathaniel, mason 145 

Smith. John, shoemaker 50 

Siiiith. John, blacksmith 23.T 

Shuman. Peter, tanner 165 

Ringer, Simon, blacksmith 180 

Shaeffer, Adam, saddletree-maker 75 

Taylor, Joseph, merchant 360 

Triibv, Christopher, Jr.. potter 240 

W'ise, Henry, clockmaker 175 

W'eaver, Hcnrv. merchant JoO 

Wells. John. Collector of Excise 621 

W'illiams, Nathan, mason 15 

W'eltv. Hcnrv, skin dresser 285 

Watt, Robert, hatter 205 

West, Samuel, shoemaker 24 

WiUiams, Robert, saddler 60 

Young. John, attorney 1105 

Young, (broLlier of the above) 19 

1 Day, Nicholas 24 

Non-resident ' Jackson, Richard 20 

won resmeuc McCleland, Joseph 30 

taxables. [ Nvhoff, Gerhard 200 

J Tfuby, Christopher, Esq 160 




wm 



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m 

m 

m 

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m 

m 
^& 
m 

m 

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PI 

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SECOND COURT HOUSE AT GKKENSBUKG, 
Brccled 1798. 



The total number of taxables was 97; total valuation, §25,555; num- 
ber of houses and lots, 76; out-lots, 26; stores 11; taverns, 6; single 
men, 23; horses, 50; cattle, 42; posts of profit, 8; trades and occupa- 
tions, 31; tan yards, 2; stills, 2. 

In a majority of instances the assessed valuation, as given in the list, 
here presented, also represents real estate possessions which were 
located outside of the borough limits. Moreover, in many cases, tax- 
ables were not the owners of the real estate with which they were tax- 
ed, but merely tenants. 



Second Court House at Greensburg. 

Although authority was granted by the Act of February 14, 1789, 
for the displacing of the first rude Court House with a new and better 
one, it was not until eight years thereafter that the work was actually 
commenced. The old or first Court House was in use for offices until 
demolished, but the sittings of the court did not take place in that 
building after January, 1791. From June of that eventful year (dur- 
ing the Whiskey Insurrection) until April, 1795, the courts were held 
in'the house of Robert Taylor, an innkeeper. In the three succeeding 
years the public house of Bartel Lafi'er was used for that purpose. 
The first Court House was torn down in the year 1797. While the 
second or new one was ready for partial occupancy, in the winter of 
1798, the main structure, prison, adjoining office buildings and sur- 
roundings were not entirely completed until 1801. Brick and stone 
were the materials used in the construction. In the early years of the 
present century the Westmoreland Court House was renowned as a 
very handsome public building. The state supreme court sat in the 




new edifice in 1790, beginning its session on May 27. A 
statement, in detail of the cost of the edifice, with the prison 
and oftices, is annexed: 

Natlmniel Williams for building Court House and offices and finding 

•JGT.GliI bricks at 40 s. per m $2,414.60 

David Pollock for materials provided and carpenter work done to Court 

House and ofHccs 4,209.68 




Samuel Alexander for nails and smithwork for Court House and ;iail. . . 

Alex. Beans, for smithwork ■ 

Daniel Bacon, for ditto 

Peter Horebach. for ditto 

Peter La\\Ter. for nails 

John Probst, for screws. 

Jacob Hugus, for spouts and pipes 

Tarence Canipljill, slicct and bar iron 

Goudy ami A\'illiains. for glue 

George Bl-cR. Ini^ making stove pipes 

Robert Williams, for paint and glue 

Lancflut Armstrong, for lettering office doors 

James McLaughlin for digging foundation of prison yard wall, 
U'.i' yds. al 1 s. per yard 

John .Shaffer, for a stove for Court House 

William Cope and Frederick Rhorerfor plastering offices, in part 

William Harris, for brick and hauling 

WiUiatn Harris, for brick and hauling 

Julm I*'lrru:r|-, roi" inalciiik' stn\-<' pipe, i.-lc 

I'riali Whrcl.T, !'urdiL'L;iiik' pari (pfjail well 

TliuTuas McCamiLh, labur at Court House 

Peter Helich, for repairing tin pipes.. 

Nathan Williams for painting brick work of Court House and 

offices 

Nathan W'illiams. in part for building jail wall 

John Flccgcr, in part fur public well 

John Fleeger, for smithwork 

William Cope, in full for plastering the offices and part of the 

Court House 

John McCaskey, for cutting and laying steps at Court House 

and offices ■ 

Timotliy Bucll. for covering jail wall, making gate, etc 

Peter Eckhart. for hauling stone for jail yard wall 

Nathan Williams, for work done on jail and jail yard 

Williams and Stewart, in part for paving front of the Court 

House 

Joseph Hostettcr. for a bell 

Extra expenses for use of public buildings 

William Cope for plastering the under story and part of the 

upper story of the Court House, in full — 

John McCaskey for paving the under floor of the Court House... 
Williams and Stewart, for paving before Court House and offices 
Nathan Williams, for digging and walling a well in the jail yard 

and paving about the same 

John Shryock. for pulling a pump in ditio 

Joseph Arnistrontr, fur pulling' up banisters, rails and gates 

bet ore the Court lluusf and olliccs and painting the same.. . 
Simon Singer, smithwork done about Court House, jail, jail 

yard, pump, etc ■ ■ 



293.54 

127.72 
33.37s 
15.92 
18.H6I 

7.31 
46.80 
10.35 
.40 
12.66!i 
10,88 

7.00 

11.93 
24.00 
310 00 
11.33i 

3.164 
21.62 

4.00 

3.00 
29.33i 

36.26 

811.78 

12.00 

17 30 

313,973 

105.33J 
91.49ii 

125.53 ir*^^ 

224.39i ^^^ 

165.78 &^^ 



70.10 
206.00 



loO.no 
10.47 



101.75 
26.20 



Total $10,185.73 

As will he seen by the illustration of the .same, the 
second Court House was a two-stoiy structure. It was 



m^ 






S^l 



surmounted by a cupola or open belfry. Court 
House, jail and adjoining office buildings were re- 
duced and removed, in 1864, to make way for the 
present edifice. A ground plan of the second Court 
House and its immediate surroundings, is shown in 
the diagram which follows: 




PROPERTY OF MR, JAJIKS < '( K'lll: ANE. 
East Pittsburg Street. 











Alley 










U 




15 




2 
















13 






3 


Yr. 


6 


7 


8 


11 




\\ 


1 


1 


2 




1 


9 




m 

H 
H 


5 


10 


is 
\ 













\/ 



MAIN STREET. 



1. 

3 



Market house. 

Jail, two-story stone building, about 30x30 feet. 

3. Sheriff's house, one-story stone building, about 25x2.5 feet. 

4. Coal house, frame. 

5. House where town fire engine was kept. 4 and 5 were really 
one building with a partition between the two parts. 

6. Wing of Court House, brick, one-story. For many years it 
was occupied as a law office by the late Hon. H. D. Foster. 

7. Part of same building as No. 6. Occupied as County Com- 
missioners' office. 

8. Court House. 







"i>, 10, 11, IL'. Two-story brick building. First floor. 9, ' 
Prothonotary's office; 10, Treasurer's office. Second floor, 
11, Eecorder's office; 12, vacant room, used for storage, and 
subsequently as Coniuiissioners' office, while present Court 
House was being erected. 



l.S. Jail yard, with stone wall 1.5 feet high on west and 
north sides. Windows of buildings on east and south sides 
had iron gratings. Prisoners were sometimes permitted in 
■the yard, but always under guard. 

1-i. Gate. 

1.". Sidewalk. 





RESIDENCE OF MR. N\aLLI.\M F. BRINKER. 
Corner North Maple Avenue and Grant Street. 



Period When Slaves were Sold, 

It will impress the average reader of the present 
generation as being almost incredible that slaves 
were sometimes sold at auction, on the corner of 
Main and "\^'est Pittsburg Streets (in front of the 
old market house), in (ireeusburg. Such, how- 
ever, is the fact. In verification of the statement 
an advertisement, published in the Pittsburg Ga- 
zette, December 13, 1788, is subjoined, with other 
information on the same subject: 

"Was committed to the Greensburgh gaol in December 
lust. :i NeKi'o JIaii, about 4o years of age, tall and slim 
niaiie, bas lust some of his fore teeth; be has been adver- 
ti'spil several times, but no owner has appeared. This is 
til give ribtjic'e that unless his master comes and pays his 
tVes; he will be sold on the second Thursday of January 
next. WiLLUM Pehry. Sheriff." 

"Greensburgh, December 8, 17?8." 

In other instances resident owners of slaves, de- 
siring to dispose of them, posted handbills giving 
notice of the time wlien they would expose such 
property to public sale, at the place above stated. 



m 



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pSs> 



1# 



S 



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Eveu less than seventy-five years ago transactions of that 
character occurred within the shadow of the Westmoreland 
Court House. On October 17, 1817, George Armstrong, 
Esq., advertised as follows in one of the local papers: 

"For Sale— A Black Man, aged 33 years 1st of May last, and to serve 
until 28. He is stout, active and good natured, well acquainted with 




RESIDENCE OF .JOSEPH J. JOHNSTON, 
North Main Street. 



ESQ. 



farming. If not sold previous to Wednesday, 20tb instant, he will on 
that day be sold at public sale in the borough of Ureensburgh. Three 
months' credit will be given." 

Mr. Armstrong was not himself a slave-owner, l:iut was 
acting in his professional capacity as an attorney. The an- 
nexed appeared in the columns of the Greensburgh Gazette, 
on June 6, 1817: 

'•For Sale— The time of a Negro Girl, who is 17 years of 
age and has 11 years to serve. She is of a good moral char- 
acter, and would not be sold but that the owner is about to 
move to the westward. Inquire of the printer." 

A citizen of Greensburg, in June, 1816, advertised 
a runaway slave, ofl'ering a reward of S30 for his 
apprehension. The outfit worn by the negro was 
evidently of a gorgeous and striking character. A 
glimpse thereof is furnished by the advertiser, and 
will, no doubt, be interesting to the reader of today. 
After describing the physical characteristics of his 
absent slave, the master added: "His clothing con- 
sisted of a blue cloth cotee with gilt lauttons, a pair 
of mixt casinet overalls with bullet buttons at the 
ankles, a black silk vest, a fur hat with a green cover, 
a muslin shirt with ruifles, and boots with tassels. 
He also v?ore an indifferent silver watch, with a va- 
riety of seals and trinkets, and a large brooch on the 
bosom of his shirt." 

An Act was passed by the Legislature on March 1, 
1780, for the gradual abolition of slavery in Penn- 
sylvania. By this statute children born to those in 
slavery were to remain in servitude until twenty- 





f 



FIRST REFORMED CHURCH. 

Knst Third'Stroct. 
First Building. Log. 1795; 2d. 1815; 3d, 1882. 



eight years of age. Slaves brought into Pennsylvania from other 
states under covenant were not to be held after they attained the age 
of twenty-eight, but could be held until that time. Owners of slaves 
were required to register them liy Novemljer 1, 1780. If they refused 
or neglected to do so, the slave or servant was not to be deemed a slave 
or servant for the prescribed period. By an Act of April 13, 17§2, 
inhabitants of Westmoreland and Washington counties, who were 
doubtful, before the boundry between Pennsylvania and Virginia ■was 
settled, as to which state they belonged, were allowed until January 1, 
1783, to register such slaves or servants as they held on September 23, 
1780. The provisions of this law were still further extended by a 
measure enacted September 23, 1784. 

Under these several Acts, l^etween September 2.5, 1780, and January 
1, 1783, there were (lO") male and female slaves registered in Westmore- 
land county, which, at that time, of course, included all the original 
territory of Westmoreland, except that cut off and emliraced in Wash- 
ington county. In 1798 there were twelve slaves in Hempfield town- 
ship, which tlien still comprehended Greensburg. Three years later, 
1801, the number of slaves in the entire county was one hundred and 
thirty-six; in 1810, twenty-one: and, in 1820, seven. One slave, a 
female, was reported in Ls-tO, being the last in Westmoreland county. 

Some of the white liond-servants, of early days, were likewise sold in 
Greensburg. They were known as redemptioners, as they had the 
right of redeeming themselves. Most of them sought passage from 
European countries to America, to escape persecution, and, not having 
means, agreed with the owner of a vessel to be sold for a term of 
years, on their arrival, to pay for their passage. It was such persons, 
who are referred to in the appended sample advertisement, which ap- 





peared in a Greensburg paper, of the date given (the name 
of the advertiser being omitted) : 

"German Redemptioners for Sale — The time of a man, aged 40, the 
wife, aged 45, and a son aged 15 years, who have two years and a half 
to serve. Enquire of ." 

"Greensburgh, March 5, 1819." 




KESIDENCE OF MR. ADAM FISHER. 
Corner North Main and Tunnel Streets. 



Town Site in Court, 

Messrs. William Jack and Christopher Truby, on the 14th 
of March, 1800, preisented a petition to the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas regarding the site of Greensburg. President 
Judge Alexander Addison and the Associate Judges of that 
court were on the bench. The petitioners stated 
that they had "lately discovered that a certain 
Tvriting purporting to be articles of agreement be- 
tween them of the one part and Benjamin Davis, 
Michael Rugh and Hugh Martin, Trustees for the 
county of Westmoreland," had been entered on 
the county records, "whereby the said William 
Jack and Christopher Truby are bound to make a 
clear patent, free from all incumbrances to the 
said Benjamin Davis, Michael Rugh and Hugh 
Martin, Trustees, or their successors, and promis- 
ed to lay out a certain quantity of land for the use 
of a county town, containing sixty acres, as there- 
in described, and to allow the inhabitants of said 
town free incourse and recourse to the North 
branch and West branch of Sewickley, at certain 
places, as the Trustees should think proper, not 
to be an injury to the bottom on said waters, and 
to sell the said lots of ground at the rate of forty- 
five shillings per acre." 

The petitioners averred that they had never 
entered into or executed such articles of agree- 



^m 



m 
m 
m 




merit. "The only contract which' was 'ever made and confirmed in that 
respect related to the making over by your petitioners to the Trustees 
appointed by the said Act (Sept. 13, 1785) a lot of two acres or there- 
abouts for erecting public buildings, &c., in the centre of the said town, 
and selling the lots originally laid out to the first adventurers by lottery, 
who complied with the terms thereof, at six dollars for each lot, which 
contract has always been complied with on their part.'' The peti- 
tioners further declared that they had recently learned that the paper; 
entered on the county records as genuine but which in reality is not, 
was in the possession of Joseph Cook, of Greensburg (then Chief Bur- 
gess). Accordingly, the petitioners added, that they had Ijrought the 
alleged articles of agreement "into court for the examination of your 
honors, and also pray an order for taking the depositions of witnesses 
touching the premises in perpetuam, rei memoriam^ that your said peti- 
tioners ma)'' be enabled to have the lienefit of such testimony in opposi- 
tion to any claim or demand of right, title or interest which might or 
could l)e desired by virtue of tlie said iirotcudod articles of agreement, 
provided the same were genuine, against said William Jack and Chris- 
topher Truby, their heirs'or assigns." 

In conformity with the prayer of the petitioners the court appointed 
Messrs. John Irwin, William Todd and George Smith to take the de- 
positions of the Trustees for thedocafion of the seat of justice and erec- 
tion of public buildings, under the Act of Sept. 13, 1785. In due time 
the sworn statements of the Trustees were secured and returned to the 
court. As the depositions embody the Trustees' own story of some of 
the circumstances attending the selection of Greensburg as the county- 
seat of Westmoreland, they possess greater interest to the present gen- 



BUSINESS BUILIHNU (IF MKt^SHS. 

Main Street. 



L. KECK & CO. 



eration as a matter of local 
[42] 



history, than in a legal sense. Some ex- 



tracts, therefore, with the historic feature in vie-.v, will be 
quoted from the statements. 

TRUSTEES- DEPOSITIONS. 

Michael Rugh, who had removed from Hempfield to Frank- 
lin township, in the interval, 



that the articles 





agreement, referred to in the complainants' petition, had never 

been executed. He stated "that the Trustees at first agreed 

to purchase of them (Jack and Truby) sixty acres at four 

dollars an acre, but no articles were drawn, but he and the 

other two Trustees, immediately after, concluded that this 

measure would give them too much trouble, and relinquished 

the agreement and agreed to take a grant of two 

acres for the use of the public buildings, and the said 

William and Christopher were to sell and convey the 

town lots as they might think proper. That articles 

of agreement were afterwards entered into for that 

purpose and a conveyance made for the two acres by 

the proprietors of the ground." 

In the course of his evidence Benjamin Davis like- 
wise declared that the purported articles of agreement 
had not been confirmed, and, that the paper in ques- 
tion, he did not recollect of ever having seen, until 
recently. Mr. Davis added: "There was an article 
made between the said William (Jack) and Christo- 
)her Truljy, of the one part, and the Trustees of the 
other part, by which the said Trustees agreed to pur- 
chase of the said William and Christopher a certain 
quantity of land for the use of a county town, which 
the deponent believes was .sixty acres, or thereabouts, 
which article was disannulled the second day after it 
was wrote, by the consent of all parties, and a new 
contract entered into by which the said William and 
Christopher agreed to give and grant to the Trustees 









'SSSpil 



for the purpose of erecting pulilie bnildings the quantity of 
two acres in the centre of the town of Greensl)urgh. That to 
the best of this deponent's knowledge and ))elief this last 
mentioneti agreement was the only one which was ever con- 
Hrnied between the said William and Christopher and the 




said Trustees; and, in pursuance thereof, a <lced was made 
and executed l)y the said Christopher and Isabel, his wife, 
Ludwig Otterman and Francesca, his wife, and Margaret 
Jack and John Moore, Esq., attorney for William Jack, 
Esq., (who was aljsent) to the said Trustees for the aforesaid 
two acres, hearing ilate the 6th of jNIay, 1789. 
This deponent on further recollection believes that 
Ijudwig Otterman was a party to the first agree- 
ment before mentioned for the purchase of sixty 
acres. That by that agreement the Trustees were 
to lay oft' the town lots and sell the same for the 
use and benefit of the county. That the survey of 
flic sixty acres was never completed on account of 
the disannulling of the bargain. This deponent 
further said that the snm agreed to be paid for 
the sixty acres was to have been thirty shillings 
per acre, of which no part was ever paid to his 
knowledge by reason of the disannulling liefore 
mentioned." 

Hugh Martin, after carefully reading and e.\- 
amining the paper in dispute, also disclaimed that 
it had ever been signed and executed. Following 
llic appointment of the Trustees, by the Act of 
Assembly, to fix upon a location for the seat of 
justice for Westmoreland county, he deposed, they 
met for that purpose on the ground where Greens- 
burg now stands. "A proposition was made," Mr. 
Martin further testified, "by William Jack, Chris- 



topher Truby and Ludwig Otteruian to sell the Trustees 
sixty acres or sixty-four acres of land at four dollars per 
acre. A majority of the Trustees, to-wit: Benjamin Davis, 
Michael Rugh and this deponent, ha^'ing concluded to fix 




KESIDENCE OF MKS. J. A. MAUCHAND. 
Corner North Main and Park Streets. 



the seat at Greensburgh, thought of agreeing to the said pro- 
position, and this deponent then returned to his house, leav- 
ing the other two Trustees on the ground. That some time 
after this deponent met with Benjamin Davis who mentioned 
some diificulties about selling different lots 
that he had begun to survey, the quantity to 
be sold, and had gone part of the way 
in running the lines, but it had come to his 
mind that the Trustees were not authorized to 
purchase more ground than was necessary for 
the public buildings, and that, more especially, 
as two of the Trustees dissented, it would be 
better to take only as much ground as would be 
necessary for that purpose, which, he believes, 
was two acres. That this deponent and the 
other two Trustees, to-wit: B. Davis and M. 
Rugh agreed upon this plan. This deponent 
doth not recollect to have signed any articles 
upon the subject of the proposition for the sixty 
or sixty-four acres, but if there was any such 
articles they were disannulled by the consent of 
all parties. That an agreement was made with 
William Jack and Christophor Truby, and, this 
deponent believes, with Ludwig Otterman, to 
lay out the county town at Greensburgh and to 
receive two acres for erecting public buildings, 
which agreement was executed." 

Below is a copy of the paper, referred to in 



« 













the depositions as either having never heen executed or dis- 
unuulled: 

THE DISAYOAN^ED AGREEMENT. 

Articles of agreement maile and conchided on between Christopher 
Truby and Wm. Jack of the one part and Benjamin Davis, Michael 




Rugh and Hugh Martin, trnstees for the county of Westmoreland; 
Witnesseth, that the said Christopher Truby and Wm. Jack d.itli here- 
by grant, bargain and sell unto the said Benj. Davis. Mich'l Rngh and 
Hugh Martin, Trustees, a certain piece of land situate and being in 
Hempfield township, on the North Branch of the Sewicklee, contain- 
ing two acres, for the use of Errecting a Court House and prison, for 
the consideration of six pence lawful money of the state of Pennsyl- 
vania to us in hand paid, the receipt we do hereby confess and acknow- 
ledge ourselves fully satisfied, and the said Chris- 
topher Truby and William Jack doth hereby bind 
themselves, their heirs, e.iecutors. administrators and 
assigns to make a clear Patton free from all incum- 
brances to the said Benjn Davis, Michael Rugh and 
Hugh Martin. Trustees or their successors, and the 
said Christopher Truby and William Jack doth hereby 
promise to the said trustees to lay out a certain quanti- 
ty of land for the use of a county town containing Si.^ty 
acres, viz: Running thence south twenty east lliO perches, 
south 43' east 811 perches, north 75 east 40 perches and 
north 4* west 135 perches to a post, south T.^ west to the 
place of beginning, and to allow the Inhabitants of said 
Town free incourse and recourse to the North Branch and 
West Branch at certain places as the said trustees shall 
think proper, not to be an injury to the bottom on said 
Watters, and the said Christopher Truby and Wm. 
Jack doth hereby promise to sell the said lots of ground 
at the rates of Forty-five shillings per lot. and we do 
hereby bind ourselves in the penalty of Two thousand 
pounds for the true performance of the above agree- 
ment, as witness our hands and seals the 10th day of 
December, 1785. Chris Truby, 

WiLU.iM J.\CK. 



ciiKisr r.i'iscurAi, iiirmii. 
Corner North Main and Tunnel Streets. 
First Building, lS21;2d, 1851; 3d, 1SS9. 



Sealed and delivered in the prence 
of Wm. McGhee. 

Recorded 12th day of July, 1787, 

[Book B, page 287], 



page 282. 



The duly signed, acknowledg-ed and recorded 



[46] 



w, 

m 
m 
m 
m 

m 



instrument for the transfer of the two acres, adverted to in 
the Trustees" depositions, is subjoined: 

DEED FOR THE PUBLIC SQUARE. 

This indenture made this 6th day of May, 1789, by and between 
Christopher Trnby, Esq., and Isabella, his wife, Lndwig Otterman, 
and Francisca. his wife, and Margaret Jack and John Moore. Esq., 
true and lawful attorneys for William Jack, Esq., of the one part, and 
Benjamin Davis, Mich. Rugh and Hugh Martin, Esq., Trustees for the 




RESIDENCE OF .rAMES *. 51' iiiRHE.il), 
West Pittsburg Street. 



El^v. 



county of Westmoreland and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, of the 
other part, Witnesseth, that whereas the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania by their patents duly executed, with the State seal unto them 
affixed, did grant unto said Chr. Truby a certain tract of land, called 
seat of justices, the 2Cth day of August. 1788. and enrolled in the office 
at Philadelphia, in Patent Book No. 12, page a29; likewise to the said 
Ludwig Otterman one other certain tract of land, by patent bearing 
date the lOth of November. 17Si, and enrolled as aforesaid, in Book 
No. 3, page 130; likewise to the said William Jack one other certain 
tract of land, by patent bearing date the 2d day of April, in the year 
of our Lord I78^^. and enrolled as aforesaid in Book No. — , page — , re- 
ference to the said Books respectively being had will more fully and 
at large appear. Now this indenture witnesseth that the said Christo- 
pher Truby, Esq.. and Isabella, his wife, Ludwig Otterman, and Fran- 
cisca. his wife, and Margaret Jack and John Moore, trae and lawful 
attorneys fur William Jack, as will appear by letters of attomev duly 
executed, bearing date the 6th November, in the year 1788. and duly 
recorded in the office for recording of deeds in and for the county of 
Westmoreland, in Book D, page 91, reference to the said will more 
fully and at large appear. Now know ye that the before recited parties 
as well as for the laudable inclination they have to further the publick 
buildings agreeable to an obligation by them given, as for and in con- 
sideration of the sum of five shillings, good and lawfxrl money of 
Pennsylvania, to them in hand well and truly paid, the receipt and 
payment whereof is hereby acknowledged, have gi'anted, bargained 
and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, release, assign 
and confirm unto the said Benj. Davis. Mich. Rugh and Hugh .Martin, 
Trustees for the county of Westmoreland, to them and their heirs and 
assigns or successors, in ti-ust for the county of Westmoreland, a cer- 
tain lot or piece of ground in the town of Ureensbnrgh. known by the 
name of the Publick Square, in the general plan of said town. Begin- 
ning at post in First street, thence along said street south 7.5 degrees 
west 1.5 perches to a post in the corner of Back street, thence along 
said street north 1.5 degrees west 21 perches and fom--tenths to a post 
in Otterman street; thence along said street north 75 degi'ees east to a 
post in Main street: thence along said street south 15 degrees east 21 
perches to the place of beginning, containing two acres, with the ap- 
purtenances, improvements, buildings, gardenings, ways, waters, 
water courses, rights, liberties, privileges and hereditaments whatso- 
ever thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, to the only 
proper use and behoof of the said Benj. Davis, Mich. Rugh and Hugh 
JJartin, Tmstees as aforesaid, for and in trust and for the use afore- 



[47 J 



i-i- -'-t:-i:=*-^.l^i^s=5K.',^C±i- 



s 



m 

Pi 

m 



iji 









to 



said to them and their heirs and assigns or successors forever, and the 
said Chr. Truby and Isabella, his wife, and Ludwig Otterman. and 
Francisca. his wife, and for themselves and their heirs, and the said 
Margaret Jack and John Moore, by virtue of the before recited powers 
do further covenen t and promise that they the aforesaid lot of two acres, 
with its appurtenances (it being part of the before recited tracts) unto 
the said Benjamin Davis, Mich. Rugh and Hugh Martin, their heirs, 
executors, administrators and assigns or successors in trust and for the 




BUILlilNii OF MESSIIS 
Main Street. 



use aforesaid, shall and will warrant and forever defend by these pre- 
sents in fee subject nevertheless to such restrictions and reservations 
as is reserved by the Commonwealth. 

In test-mony whereof the said Chr. Truby and Isabella, his wife, 
and Ludwig Otterman and Francisca, his wife, Margaret Jack end 
John Moore have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year 
first written Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us. 
William M.\ghee, Chr. Tkuby, 

J. Hamilton. ^ her 

Isabella x Truby, 

mark 
LuDwiG Otterman, 

her 
Francisca x Otterman, 

mark 
John Moore, 
Margaret Jack. 

Westmoreland County, ss. 

Be it remembered that on the 6th day^of May, A. D. 1789, 
came before me, James Hamilton, Esq.. one of the Common- 
wealth's Justices of the Peace, also of the Court of Common 
Pleas in and for said county, came Chr. Truby, Esq., and Isa- 
bella, his wife, and Ludwig Otterman, and Francisca, his wife, 
and Margaret Jack and John Moore, Esq., the grantors above 
named, and acknowledged the above indenture or conveyance to 
be their act and deed and desires the same to be recorded accord- 
ing to law, the said parties being by me examined in due form 
of law and voluntarily consenting, the contents unto them first 
being made known. 

James Hamilton. 

Recorded May 7. 1789, Book D, page 115. 

Although the Burgesses and Inhabitants of the Bor- 
ough of Greensburg, together with the late Trustees of 
the county, ■were made the defendants in the action of 
the petitioners or complainants, the former oifered no 
opposition. Indeed, there is reason to believe that the 
Burgesses had urged the proceedings, in order to adju- 
dicate the matter during the lifetime of the Trustees, 



[48 J 



aud avoid any controversy or litigation in the future. The 
petition, depositions and other formal actions, incident to 
filing the same in perjjctuam rei memorknn, were read in 
open court on December IS, 1800, and, there being no objec- 
tion, the rule was made absolute. 




RESIDENCE OF MK. ELI SELL. 
Corner South Main and West Fourth Streets. 



[49 J 



Packets and Movers, 

Greensburg, like all settlements in the western country, 
prior to 1800, and even for some years thereafter, was com- 
pelled to dejjend almost entirely on post-riders and pack- 
horses in its communication with the outside 
world. Vehicles of any kind were few, because 
of the scant means of the settlers, and the limited 
number and impassaVjle condition of the roads, dur- 
ing the greater part of the year. With the exception 
of the Forbes' road, through Hannastown, and the 
more direct road, through Greensburg, from the 
eastward to Pittsburg, there were no other roads 
in this locality, previous to 1790, worthy of the 
name. The lateral and cross ways were merely in 
the nature of bridle-paths and timber trails. Dur- 
ing the spring and autumn even the Forbes' and 
Greensburg roads, because of storm-felled timber, 
boggy bottoms and Ijridgeless streams, could only 
be traversed with peril and difficulty. 

Greensburg was a popular sojourning place with 
the packers and movers (owners or drivers of 
pack-horse trains) in their trips eastward and 
westward. There were four or more taverns in 
the limits or vicinity of the town, in 1786, with 
special provisions for catering to the packers. 
Two prime requisites were a large open shed, with 
an enclosed loft, and a commodious barroom. In 



^^ 




m 
m 
m 

pi 

m 
m 

m 



m'.:: 



the sheds were long troughs, along the edges of which 
were driven plenty of nails to prevent the hungry 
pack-horses from knawing away the wood. A glance 
into the loft would reveal numerous little heaps of oats 
and corn, carefully piled all over the floor bj^ the pack- 




mSIXESS lU'IMiIXG OF BLANK BUi 
East Otterman Street. 



ers, going eastward, which they would feed to their faithful horses 
on the return trip. On the spacious liarroom floor, with their 
feet to the fire, and their heads wherever they could find a resting 
place, the sturdy packers passed the night. Some of the barrooms 
had accommodations for two or three dozen lodgers. The habit 
of the packers and mo\ers was a yellow or green hunting shirt, 
made of tow-linen, neatly plaided from the ellsows to the wrists, 
and adorned with fringes around the tails, wrists, capes and col- 
lars. Under the long hunting shirt leggings were worn, while the 
feet were clad in moccasins. The packers and movers traveled in 
droves or caravans, with from six to a dozen horses tethered in 
single file, the dri\'er riding in the lead or rear and directing the 
train by lusty vocal orders. With the heavily-ladened packsaddles, 
and a tinkling Ijell suspended from their necks, the horses trudged 
steadily along at the rate of from eighteen to twenty miles a day. 
Produce of certain kinds, whiskey and skins were conveyed to the 
east of the mountains and alum-salt, iron and merchandise 
lirought back. 

Among the innkeepers in Greensl)urg and immediate vicinity 
in 178S were Joseph Thompson, Robert Taylor, Bartel Laffer and 
John Taylor. In this connection it will, no doubt, be a matter of 
interest to the reader to scan the form of a tavern license at that 
period. It was as follows: 

Know all Men by tbese presents, that I, Joseph Thompson, of the Town 
of Greensburgh. am Held and Hrmly bound unto His Excellency Thomas 
Mifflin, Esquire. President of the Supreme Executive Council of the Com- 
mon-wealth of Pennsylvania, in the Sum of Forty pounds. Current Money of 
the said Common-wealth: To which payment well and truly to be made, I 
do bind myself, my Heirs, Executors, and administrators, firmly by these 

[50] 



m 



1^ 



Presents. Sealed with my Seal, Dated the Sixth Day of October, in 
the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty-Nine. 
The Condition of the above Obligation is such, That Whereas the 
above bounden Joseph Thompson hath obtained a Recommendation 
from the Court of Qiiarter Sessions of the Peace for the County of 
Westmoreland to the Supreme Executive Council for their License to 
sell all Kinds of Spirituous Liquors by the Small measure, If therefore 




the said Joseph Thompson, after having obtained the said License, 
shall during the Continuance thereof, be of good Behavior, and shall 
observe and keep all the Laws and Ordinances which are and shall be 
made, relating to his said employment, within this common-wealth, 
then the above Obligation to be void, otherwise to be and remain in 
full Force and Virtue. Joseph Thompson. [Seal]. 

Sealed and delivered in presence of 

Thom-as Hamilton, 

Mich. Huffnagle. 



I OF HON. JAMES S. EEACOM. 
North Main Street. 



[51] 



Early Mail Methods, 

Messages, letters, papers and small packages, 
such as constitute what is ordinarily designated 
mail matter, in the early days of the western coun- 
try, were carried by the courtesy of travelers. A 
citijien of Greensburg or vicinity, when about to 
make a journey to Philadelphia, or points east of 
the mountains, was entrusted with letters or valu- 
able papers, by his neighbors, which he delivered 
as a favor. Persons traveling to the west of the 
mountains did the same thing. Packers and mov- 
ers likewise often combined the business of a mail 
carrier or post-express with that of transporting 
merchandise, for a small compensation. Post 
riders, under government authority, operated be- 
tween Pittsburg and Philadelphia, with more or 
less regularity, after 1792. 

When Greensburg's first newspaper was estab- 
lished in 1799, the papers were sent in packages to 
prominent citizens, named in its columns, in vari- 



/ 








mm 






f^^'Z^r^rf^ 



I ' 




HUFF OFFICE BUILDING. 
Main Street. 



ous localities, to whom subscribers in the vicinity Avent and received 
copies. The packages were carried from the pulalication office by post-riders 
employed by the publishers. In some instances, residents of a neighborhood, 
by an agreed order of rotation, journeyed to the printing office in Greensburg, 
procured the required number of papers, took them back and distributed them 
among those subscribers in the rotation agreement. Suljsequently, post-riders 
were emjjloyed for particular routes and received fifty cents per annum from 
each subscriber for the weekly delivery of his copy of the paper. 

A regular stage and mail service, on the leading roads, was established a few 
years later. The schedule of the arrival and departure of the mail-stages, at 
Greensburg in 1807, was as follows: 

Eastern. — The mail-stage for Philadelphia leaves Greensburgh every Sunday 
and Thursday morning, and returns every Sunday and Wednesday evening. 

A mail for Alexandria, Huntingdon county via Dennistonstown (New Alex- 
andria), Armagh, Benta, &c., leaves Greensburgh every Friday morning and 
returns every Monday evening. 

Western. — The mail stage for Pittsburgh leaves Greensburgh every Monday 
and Thursday morning and returns every Wednesday and Saturday evening. 

A mail leaves Greensburgh every Tuesday morning for Kittanning, via Free- 
port, and returns every Wednesday evening. 

Another mail leaves Greensburgh once in two weeks, on Monday morning, 
via Mountpleasant and Eobbstown, for Wheeling, and returns on Saturday, 
following. 

Subjoined is the order of the arrival and departure of the mail-stages at 
Greensburg in 1813: 

The Philadelphia and Pittsburg mail arrives every Monday, Wednesday and 
Friday evenings, and departs every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. 

t52J . 









The Washington mail arrives every Tuesday and departs 
the same day. 

The Battanning mail arrives every Thursday evening and 
departs every Tuesday morning. 



The Bedford mail arrives every Friday evening and de- 
parts every Saturday morning. 

The Uniontown mail arrives every Monday evening and 
departs every Tuesday morning. 




RESIDENXE OF 3IRS. JOHN KUHNS. 
"West Pittsburg Street. 

i&7 



[53] 



The Building of the Turnpike. 

Recognizing the need of a better and more substantial 
highway from the central to the western part of the State, 
and in compliance with a popular demand, the General 
Assembly on April 2, ISll, passed an Act "to encourage 
the constructing of certain great and leading roads within 
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," etc. By this statute 
the sum of §3.50,000 was appropriated toward the building 
of an artifical road from the bank of the Susquehanna 
river, opposite Harrisburg, to Pittsburg. Governor 
Snyder, in accordance with the law, appointed Nathan 
Beech, of Philadelphia, Eobert Harris and John Schoch, 
of Harrisburg, and William McCandless and Adamson 
Tannehill, of Pittsburg, commissioners to view the two 
routes proposed, the northern and southern. After due 
consideration, they reported in favor of the latter route, 
leading through Chambersburg, Bedford, Somerset and 
Greensburg to Pittsburg. 

Although the provisions of the Act were extended as to 
time, the residents of the western counties were slow to 
avail themselves of the terms and opportunity offered. 
Toward the close of the year 1813, however, there was an 









m 
fe 



m 



'^ 



WL 



awakening among the inhabitants of AVestmoreland and Alle- 
gheny counties on the subject. Meetings were held at vari- 
ous places throughout the two counties and committees ap- 
pointed to attend a general meeting, which took place at the 




■-IDENClL l)F MR. FRANK N. 

North Maple Avenue. 



house of James Herron, in Pittsburg, on December 27, 1813. 
Messrs. Dunning McNair, John B. Alexander, Esq., and 
Ephraim Pentland were appointed a committee by that meet- 
ing to draft a memorial to the Legislature, praying for the 
enactment of a law authorizing the incorporation of a com- 
pany to build an artificial road from Pittsburg to Greerisburg. 
In the course of the memorial the General Assembly was 
informed that the inhabitants of Allegheny and Westmore- 
land counties were anxious to foster and encourage the com- 
merce of the western country; that Pittsburg was the place 
of deposit for all the foreign merchandise destined for the 
western part of Virginia, that part of Pennsylvania connected 
with the waters of Lake Erie, and the States of Ohio, Ken- 
tucky and Tennessee, transported liy land from Philadelphia 
;uid Baltimore; that the number of teams engaged in the 
transportation of merchandise and annually arriving at Pitts- 
Inu'g was from 7,000 to 10,000; that a free turnpike was then 
in course of construction, at the entire expense of the United 
States government, from the vicinity of Washington, D. C, 
to Wheeling, the result of which would be to injure the trade 
of Philadelphia and extend that of Baltimore; that "during 
the present season, owing to the extreme badness of 
the roads, hundreds of wagons have left the main road, 
cast of Grecnsl)urgh, and made the best of their way to the 
Monougalielaand Youghiogheny rivers, and from thence have 
transported their loading Ijy water to Pittsliurgh, at a con- 
siderable addition of expense and delay." As a remedy for 
those evils, the passage of an Act authorizing the Governor 



[54] 




to incorporate a company for making a turnpike road from Pitts- 
burg to Greensburg, and subscribing on the part of the State 
therefor §60,000, while the inhabitants of the two counties would, 
it was believed, subscribe §72,000; and, repeal such part of the 
Act of April 3, ISll, as would be supplied by this plan, was pro- 
posed. Copies of the petition or memorial were circulated in both 
Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, numerously signed and 
forwarded to Harrisburg. 

Under the provisions of an Act passed March 9, 1814, the Gov- 
ernor was directed to incorporate five companies to construct the 
contemplated turnpike. The first corporation was for the building 
of the road from Harrisburg to Chambersburg; the second from 
Chambersburg to Bedford; the third from Bedford to Somerset; 
the fourth from Somerset to Greensburg; and thefifthfrom Greens- 
burg to Pittsburg. The Commissioners, empowered by the law, 
to open books for subscriptions to the stock of the Somerset (sub- 
sequently Stoystown) and Greensburg Turnpike Road Company 
were John Ankeny, John Dennison and John Fletcher, of Somer- 
set county; William Jack, Sr., Arthur Carr, Peter Gay, John 
Grove, Hugh Martin, John White, John Hurst and Alexander 
Johnston, of Westmoreland county; and Samuel Trevor, John 
Lyon and Richard Weaver, of Fayette county. Those named 
with like authority for the Greensburg and Pittsburg Turnpike 
Road Company were Simon Drum, Jr. , William Friedt, Robert 
Stewart and Jeremiah Murry, of Westmoreland county; William 
McCandlass, Philip Gilleland, John Darrah, James Morrison and 
George Stewart, of Allegheny county; and David Bruce and 
Robert Bowland, Jr. , of Washington county. When twenty-five 

[55] 



tm 
m 



WM 






persons had subscribed 500 shares to the stock of the Somer- 
set and Greensburg Company, the State Executive was di- 
rected to issue letters patent to the Company. That official 
■was to pursue a similar course when fifty persons had sub- 
scribed 600 shares to the Greensburg and Pittsburg Company. 
Books were promptly opened for the Greensburg and Pitts- 
burg turnpike at both those places and also at the houses of 
Eobert Stewart, in North Huntingdon township, and Jere- 
miah Murry, in Franklin township. Having met the require- 



ments of the law and been duly incorporated the first officers 
and managers were elected on August .5, ISli, as follows: 
President, William Wilkins; Treasurer, William Friedt; 
Managers, Joseph Patterson, Ephraim Pentland, William B. 
Foster, Dunning McNair, Thomas Sampson, Jacob Negley, 
William Caven, George Armstrong, James Irwin, William 
Hindman, Tobias Painter, William Fullerton. The first con- 
tract at the eastern end of the road was awarded in Septem- 
ber, 1814, being for two miles westward from Greensburg. 





Some delay was occasioned as to the Somerset and Greens- 
bur^ turnpike, by reason of the amendment of the law, 
changing the route. Somerset was passed by, and, as a con- 
sequence, the name of the corporation became the Stoystown 
and Greensburg Turnpike Road Company. Officers were 
elected on July 28, 1815, by the selection of John B. Alex- 




ander, Esq., as President; Thomas Pollock, Treasurer; and 
John Dennison, Alexander Johnston, Joseph Baldridge, 
Arthur Carr, Abraham Horbach, John Ramsey, Alexander 
Seaton, Matthew Jack, Thomas Dunlap, John Lehmer and 
William Lehmer, as Managers. The first contracts for the 
construction of the road were awarded in the following 
September. 

Upon the incorporation of the companies, by the 
law already referred to, the Governor was author- 
ized to subscribe, (and, on the completion of five 
miles of road by each company, to pay a propor- 
tionate amount thereof), for 1,100 shares of the Har- 
risburgand Chambersburg Company; 2,100 shares 
of the Chambersburg and Bedford Company; 1,300 
shares each, of the Bedford and Stoystown, and 
the Stoystown and Greensburg Company; and 
1,200 of the Greensburg and Pittsburg Company. 
By an Act of March, 1821, the Executive was di- 
rected to subscribe for 1,600 shares of the five 
companies in addition to that already mentioned. 
A report made to the House of Representatives, 
on March 23, 1823, showed the subscriptions to 
the stock of the several companies to have been as 
follows: 



EESIDENCE liF JIl:. CHIUSTOPHER CKIBES. 

Alexander Street. r 57 



First.... 
Second . 
Third... 
Fourth . 
Fifth . . . 



Indiviflual. 
S T.i.nOU 
113.850 
40.41 m 
71.000 
62,000 



State. 
§ 85.0110 
167,500 
104,000 
112.nu0 
89,000 



Length — Miles. 
48* 
55 
. 281 
37' 
304 



m 



i^g 



I 



Is 




The turnpike was completed from one end to the other before the close of 
the year 1S21. That part of the great thoroughfare from Greeusburg to 
Stoystown, and from Greensburg to Pittsburg, however, was virtually linish- 
ed two and three years previously. Annexed is a statemant of the receipts 
and expenditures of the Stoystown and Greensburg Turnpike Eoad Com- 
pany, for the period terminating December 31, 1819, issued for the infor- 
mation of the stockholders: 



RECEIPTS. 

Stock oaid in by individuals ? 66.629.021 

Interest received from individual stoclt- 

holders 8?6 60 

Stock paid by the Commonwealth 97.436 iS 

Borrowed from Westmoreland Bank of 

Pennsylvania 25.000.00 

Paid to contractor by Superintendent. 

and for which Treasurer has credit . . 573.39 
Paid to Treasurer by different gate- 
keepers 15.982.37 

Bills and tickets issued by the Company 17.871 .00 

Balance due to Treasurer 180.21 



Total $224,531,071 



EXPENDITURES. 

Expenses for locating the road, includ- 
inK Manager's wages for 1815 and 1816. $ 1.766.75 

Paid contractors for making road 188 996.78 

Paid Managers' wages for 1817 and 1818. 
including clerks of elections, allow- 
ance to Secretary, etc 642.00 

Paid stamps and discounts on bank 
loan 3.273.15 

Paid Westmoreland Bank of Pennsyl- 
vania - 25.000.00 

Paid for gale houses 654.00 

Paid for printing, seal, attorney's fees 
and other incidental expenses 629.15 

Expenses of repairing the road 3.633.451 

Paid bills and tickets issued by the 
Company .-. 2,933.84 

Treasurer s pay. four years ending 1st 
of July, 1819 2,000.00 

Total $224,531.07* 



ULV .s.n.U.\.lIli-NT (CATHOLIC) CHURCH. 

North Main Street. 
First Building, 1846; second, 1887, 



Wagons, Stages and Hotels, 

Although wagons and stage coaches had been seen on the streets of Greens- 
burg daily before, the completion of the turnpike, to the eastward and west- 
ward, greatly multiplied the number. Additional taverns were opened, both 
in the borough and on the outskirts, for the entertainment of the wagoners and 
turnpike travelers. There was a recognized line of distinction between the 
[ 58 ] 



M 



public houses, those at which the stages and their passengers 
stopped claiming to be of a better class than the hostelries 
patronized by the freight teamsters. Sheds and stage or 
wagon yards were indispensable adjuncts of a tavern of that 
period. 




RESIDENCE AND OFFICE OF DR. E. M. CLIFFORD. 
Comer South Main and East Fourlh Street. 



Wagons in use for regular turnpike transportation were 
almost entirely of the ponderous six-horse Conestoga type. 
They had deep, strong beds, with a weather covering of stout 
linen, supported by hickory bows. A box, with a clasped 
lid, was affixed to the left side of the wagon-bed. In this 
were deposited a curry-comb, brush, spong and 
other essentials and extras, which generally in- 
cluded a flask of whiskey. A feeding-trough was 
attached to the rear end of the wagon-body by two 
chains. It was of sufficient capacity to provision 
six horses. When the place was reached where 
the stop was to be made for the night, the saddle- 
horse was detached, the trough brought forward 
and fastened on the wagon-tongue, with iron fix- 
tures provided for that purpose, and a prop placed 
at the end of the tongue. All the horses were 
then unhitched and tied to the trough, three on 
each side. Kails or poles were run from one 
wheel to the other, under the wagon-bed, on which 
the gears were hung during the night. The even- 
ing and morning allotments of oats or corn, to- 
gether with a liberal supply of hay, unsually con- 
stituted all the feed which the horses received in 
the course of twenty-four hours. In the winter 
season the horses were sometimes covered with a 
blanket. After providing for their horses, the 
teamsters refreshed themselves with both liquids 
and solids. Merry-making, dancing and discussions 



of eveiits and affairs, happening or pertaining' to the road, 
ordinaril}' engaged the rugged and jollj' wagoners during tlie 
evenings. Wrapped in a bhxnket they snored and rested at 
night upon the barroom floor. At 5 o'clock in the morning 
the wagons were again on the move. The spirited crack of 




STCJKEROOM UF MESSliS. A. E. TRllUTMAN & CO. 
Corner Main and West Second Street. 



[60] 



the whip, and the stentorian yell of the teamster, in giving 
commands to the uncomplaining beasts of burden, or vocaliz- 
ing a song, could frequently be heard a half-mile over the 
hills as they journeyed along. The teams, under normal con- 
ditions, traveled in groupes, varying in number from four to 
twenty. Each wagon carried 8,000 or 9,000 pounds from 
Philadelphia anil Baltimore to Pittsburg. From the 
former place the carrriage rates were §2. .50 and $3.00 per 
hundred- weight, and from Baltimore §2.00. The time 
from Philadelphia, with fair weather and no mishaps, was 
eighteen days, and from Baltimore, fifteen. At times a 
wagon carried goods for several consignees. That was 
characterized as "piece loading," and commanded higher 
rates. 

A stock company formed in the early part of 1817, as 
"The Philadelphia and Pittsburg Transporting Company," 
employed many teams between those two cities. Annual 
contracts were made with the owners of horses and \vagons. 
Greater speed than the customary wagon travel was one of 
the main purposes of this company. The loading did not 
exceed 4-,000 pounds, per wagon, from Philadelphia to 
Carlisle, and 3,500 from that place to Pittsburg. Com- 
pany wagons left Philadelphia and Pittsburg dailj^ and 
moved continuously day and night. Drivers were requir- 
ed to make no less than two miles an hour and change 
horses every ten miles. 

A record made by a turnpike gate-keeper, on the Chest- 
nut Ridge, between Greensburg and Stoystown, showed 



^1 



the following as having passed through that gate for the 
year ending May 31, 1818: 7,120 single horses, 350 one-horse 
vehicles, 501 two-horse vehicles, 105 three-horse vehicles, 
281 four-horse vehicles, 2,4:12 five-horse vehicles, 2,698 six- 
horse vehicles, 38 one-horse sleighs and sleds, and 201 two- 




horse sleighs and sleds, making a total of 38,599 horses for 
the first year after the erection of the gate. An account, 
kept at a point four and one-half miles east of Pittsburg, re- 
vealed the fact that, from January 1, 1815, to December 31, 
1815, inclusive, 5,800 road wagons, ladened with merchandise, 
passed into that city. Nearly all of those wagons return- 
ed to the east of the mountains with loads of cordage, 
saltpetre, flour, etc. Wagons from the Juniata and 
other iron works, which generally traveled by the 
northern route, were not included in the above account. 
From March 1 to March 20, 1827, a total of 500 wagons, 
eastward and westward, passed through the turnpike 
gate on the hill west of Greensburg. Eighty-five 
wagons passed through the gate on the hill, east of 
Greensburg, on March 31, 1832, being the largest num- 
ber in a single day up to that time. That record was 
eclipsed, however, on March 12, 1837, when the num- 
ber reached ninety-two. 

Some facts as to the arrival and departure of the 
stages, at Greensburg, prior to the construction of the 
turnpike, are presented in preceding pages of this vol- 
ume. A lively rivalry sprang up, between the stage 
owners in 1819, on the partial completion of the North- 
ern turnpike, from Harrisburg, through Lewistown, 
Huntingdon, New Alexandria and New Salem to Pitts- 
burg. By that route stages left Harrisburg at noon, on 
Tuesday, and arrived at Pittsburg on the following 
Monday. The fare was 111 for the entire distance and 



M 



seven cents per mile for way passengers. As a result, the 
Baltimore and Pittslmrg stages, on the turnpike through 
Greensburg, which formerly occupied four days from Cham- 
bersliurg to Pittsburg, reduced the time to three, with a cor- 




HESIDENCE IIF MR. JAMES ( 

East Greensburg. 



responding rate of fare to that of the Northern pike. In 1837, 
when turnpike tra\-el and transportation was at its zenith, 
there were four regular lines of stages, besides many extras, 
passing daily through Greensburg. So heavy was the pas- 
senger and freight traffic, at that time on the 
turnpike, that it greatly stimulated the agitation 
and efforts then under way, for the extension 
of the railroad to the western part of the State. 

THE RIVAL BRIDGES. 

At the beginning of the year 1815 there were 
six lirst-class, commodious taverns, for that 
period, in Greensljurg. The borough limits, it 
should be remembered, however, were not so 
far-reaching then as they are at the present 
time. In that year, and for forty-five years 
thereafter, the lines were practically the same as 
set forth in the statute of incorporation. Outlin- 
ed as nearly as can be done by readily recognized 
streets, of this day, the borough, for the first 
sixty years of the present century, was bounded 
on the north by Tunnel Street; on the south by 
Third Street; on the east by an almost direct 
line from the corner of East Third Street and 
iNIaple Avenue to the junction of East Otterman 
and Arch Street, or the New Alexandria road; 
and, on the west by Pennsylvania Avenue, ex- 
cept between West Otterman and Second 



Streets, where the boundary line extended about one square 
farther westward. Of the six hotels referred to, three were 
located on Pittsburg Street and three on Otterman Street. 
Those two streets join on the eastern side of the borough 




and run parallel, with one square intervening, to a point west 
of the borough, where they again conjoin and are merged in- 
to one. Accordingly, both were available, and, of about 
equidistance, for turnpike travel. As was quite natural, under 
such circumstances, there was an animated com- 
petition between the innkeepers and merchants 
on the two parallel streets. Various methods 
were adopted to divert the wagons and stages, 
in traversing the borough eastward and west- 
ward, from one street to the other. As an in- 
stance, it may be related that in 1815, the Coun- 
ty Commissioners erected a substantial stone 
bridge over the creek on West Pittsburg Street, 
(in recent years popularly styled Coal Tar run), 
at the earnest solicitation of the friends and bene- 
ficiaries of travel on that thoroughfare. When 
the county officials were urged to make a like 
improvement over the same stream on West 
Otterman Street, however, they declined. Rec- 
ognizing the great advantage gained in the 
bridge by their competitors, and thoroughly 
aroused, the Otterman Street residents, notwith- 
standing the partial action of the County Com- 
missioners, determined upon a somewhat expen- 
sive counter move. They had an equally sub- 
stantial stone bridge constructed on Otterman 
Street and paid for it out of their own pockets. 



m 

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(^&«' 

» 



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The spirit evinced by the Otterraan Street business men 
will be more full appreciated when the fact is recalled that, al- 
though they resided in the borough, the bridge was located 
in Hempfield township. 




TATERN CHARGES EIGHTY-FIVE TEARS AGO. 

Although the Greensburg innkeepers differed as to some 

things at that early period, they were united and harmonious 

on others, as the appended public notice will demonstrate: 

Whereas, the constituted and high authorities of the 
United States have thought proper in their collective 
wisdom to levy heavy duties on all spirituous liquors, 
thereby depriving the retailers and venders of the usual 
and necessary entertainment of profit in vending the 
same; therefore, we, the subscribers, innkeepers in the 
borough of Greensljurgh, do agree to and with each 
other, that we will not sell under the following prices, 
to-wit; 

Spirits distilled from ryo or corn S .121 per gill. 

Brandy 18i do 

Jamaica spirits and gin 18il do 

Madcria wine 2.00 per bottle. 

Lisbon wine 1.50 do 

Meals, vituals 37i 

Check. 25 

LodKiiiK .Vii 

Boarding 3.oO per week. 



HORSE FARB. 



,l2h per pral. 
,37i per night. 



I'HurERTlES UF MRS. A^^'A Jl CVUSLAND. 

Comer West Otterman Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. 



[64] 



Oats 

Horse at b.ay 

Horse in the stable through the day and a 
t^allon of oats 25 

Hay alone through the day 12J 

Horse at hay, per week 1.50 

Witness our hands this 7th day of January, 1815. 

ABRAHAM HORBACH, GEORGE GIBSON, 

GRIFFITH CL,AKK, DANIEL SHAEFFER, 

JOHN KUNTZ, JOHN JENNINGS. ' 

Taverns and houses for the accommodation of 
tiic public were opened, from time to time, dur- 
ing the thirty-six years that the turnpike flour- 
ished, both in the borough and vicinity. A 
noted and well-conducted hostelrie, that was 
liberally patronized by wagoners, some of the 




S5 



stages, and the tide of westbound emigrants, that frequent- 
ed the turnpike during its entire history, was the "Stone 
Tavern," east of Greeusburg, near the site of the present 
residence of Mr. Robert Jamison. Another suburban inn, 
popular with rollicldng characters and convivial parties, as 




RESIDENCE OF MR. JOHN DOKN. 
West Pittsburg Street. 



well as many wagoners, was situated on Bunker Hill. For 
the first half of the present century that eminence was a 
popular place (being a half-mile bej'ond the borough borders) 
for Independence Day celebrations, moonlight gatherings, 
militia meetings, wrestling contests and the arbitration 
of differences with the fists. On such occasions liquid re- 
freshments were required and the tavern supplied them, 
order and decorum being enforced within its walls in the 
meantime by the knocking-down and dragging-out process. 

SOME OLD INNS. 

The hotel erected by Simon Drum, the elder, about 1791, 
on the southwestern corner of Main and West Pittsburg 
Streets, was the puljlic house at which the United States 
officials held forth, while in Greensburg, during the Whiskey 
Insurrection. Both before and after the construction of the 
turnpike, that tavern always commanded a goodly patronage 
and was rated as first-class. 

Horljach's hotel, located on the southeastern corner of 
Main and East Pittsburg Streets, was one of the pioneer 
inns. It was conducted by three generations of that family. 
Abraham Horbach, Sr., who succeeded his father as land- 
lord, was a man of enterprise and large business capacity. 
He was a mail contractor, the owner of several stage lines 
and also a manufacturer of stage coaches. The Horbach 
hotel was a favorite stopping place for stages. A large 
stage barn and wagon yard, located east of Main and south 
of Third Street, which section was a green and houseless 




mi 
m 






m 



m 






m 
m 



suburb prior to 1840, were utilized in connection with the 
Horbach tavern. 

A stone building, occupied for many j^ears as a hotel, was 
erected by William Barnes, in IT'.Hi, on the northwestern 
corner of West Otterman Street and Pennsylvania Avenue 




BUSINESS BUILDIN<i ANll AI'AliT.MENT HOUSE OF MR. JOS. W. STONER. 
Corner East OLtcrman Street and Maple AvcTUie. 



(place of the present dwelling of the late C. H. Stark). At 
that period the residents of this locality were not yet entirely 
free from apprehensions of attack from savages or other 
enemies. Although liut two stories in height, Mr. Barnes 
made the solid walls of his building t^'enty-two inches in 
thickness, with the evident purpose of being able to 
speedily transform it from a tavern into a block house 
or fort, if an exigency should arise. That inn, under 
the direction of various landlords, was a noted wagon 
, house, prior to and during the operation of the turn- 
pike. 

The southeastern corner of West Pittsburg Street 
and Pennsylvania Avenue (site of the present Cope 
Motel), and the noi'thwestern corner of Main and West 
Otterman Streets (site of the present Null House), have 
lieen in continuous use for tavern purposes for more 
than a century. 

Some conception of the nomenclature of Greensburg 
taverns, prior to 1S2(), may l)e formed from the follow- 
ing: "Sign of the Spread Eagle," "Sign of the Cross 
Keys," "White Hall Inn," "Sign of Captain Law- 
rence," "Sign of George Washington." In some 
instances, however, the inns were known by the names 
of the landlords in charge. A conspicuous wooden 
sign with a crudely-painted tigure of a spread eagle or 
(ieorge Washington were the means of identifying 
the hotels so named. 



[6fi] 






mid 




Residents of Greeasbutg in 1817, 

At the time of the incorporation of Greensburg, the popu- 
lation within the borough lines was about 425. According to 



the census report in ISIO, the number of inhabitants was 685. 
In 1820 the aggregate was 776. At the latter period the 
population in detail was as shown below: 

Males. 




RESIDENCE OF HENRY R. EICHER. 
East Greensburg. 



Under 10 years of age. 
Of 10 and under 16.... 
Of 16 and under 26.... 

Of 26 and under 4i 

Of 45 and upwards 



58 
115 
6( 
40 



Number of white inhabitants. . 
Number of blacli inhabitants. 



Females. 
108 
70 
98 
68 
33 



743 
33 



Total 776 

Notwithstanding the building of the turnpike dur- 
ing the decade between 1810 and 1820, the increase 
appears to have been less than one hundred. At that 
period, however, and for some years previously, 
there was a steady and strong emigration movement 
to the westward, which carried with it many resi- 
dents of Greensburg and other parts of Westmore- 
land county. Moreover, then as now Greensburg 
had a proportionately healthy growth just outside of 
the borough limits. Although those inhabitants, in 
their commercial and social relations, were a part of 
Greensburg, they were not included and would make 
no showing, of course, in the census enumeration of 
the borough. 

A list of the taxable inhabitants of Greensburg, in 
1817, is here presented as a matter of record, for the 
benelit of present and future students of the early 



[67] 




history of the county town, together 

with the tax assessed asrainst them: 



BARNHART. 



Armstrong, George, Esq.. self 

do do for Jack's lots. . 



13.41$ 
2^ 



Armstrong, James 

Alexander, J. B..E5q 

Armbrust, John, painter 

Barnes, William 

Brady, James, Esq 

Brady, Hugh, merchant, single man- . . 77 
do do for IsetL'd house l.U 



Bearer, John, butcher 

Barton, Henry, self 

do do for Jack's lot.. 



8U 
29 



Brown, Robert 

Biggert, Mrs 

Baiizley, Michael, self 2li 

do do for Hugh's house.. . 6i^ 

Bycrly. Benjamin, s. m 

(';iri-. Arlliur 

t'uuk, ])a\id, s. m 

Couk, Joseph Jr., s. m 

Cost, John, merchant 

Chirk, Griffith, self 34 

do do for Shaeffer'a house — 3.57 

Coulter, Priscilla, widow 

Coulter, Eli. merchant, s. m 

Coulter, Richard, Esq., s. m 

(■arpcnter, Kphraim. s. m 

Capilly. M. P.. merchant, self 3 46 

do for Rohrer's house 2.86 

Conelly, John 

Collins, Joseph 

Clingan, Joseph, s. m 

Drum, Simon, Jr., Esq 

Drum. Jacob, s. m 

Dobbins, James, s. in 

Evans, Cadwalader. self 7 

do for S. M. Reed's lot 71 

F'eeger, Peter, s. m 

Fleegcr, John 

Fleming. James 

Fullerton, Humphrey, Esq., sheriff, self 99 
do for Kuhns's house 1.57 



Findley, Jonathan S., teacher. 



3.70 
1.28 
3.99 
53 
1.-J9 
1.51 



1.91 

234 



1.09 

2.73 

43 



86 
5U 

3.11 
50 
5U 

2.80 



3.91 
1.41 

2.i'9 
71 
50 



6.32 
21 
14 

64 

2.77 

71 

60 



2..=16 
1.30 



2.56 
1.47 
1.81 
156 
66 
1.50 



Foster, Alexander W., Esq , self 42 

do for Stewart's house 2.14 

Frcidt, William, a. m 

Guthrie, Samuel, Esq 

Graham, Jane, widow 

Grant, Daniel, constable 

Graham, Robert 

Gibson, George, self 33 

do for Drum's house ■ 7.11 

7.44 

Hornish, John B 57 

Haynes, . tailor, s. m 50 

Hargrave. John 86 

Herwick, Joseph 98 

Berwick, William, s. m 1.01 

Hill, John, tailor 1.50 

HartiravG, Richard, s. m 64 

Horbach, Abraham. . 7.20 

Hostel ter, Joseph 1.33 

Hcrrold, Jacob, s. m 56 

Hableston, Henry, Rev 6 

Isf tt, Henry, hatter 3.76 

Jennings. John, nailor — 66 

Jack, Wilson, merchant, self 71 

Jack, William. Esq 1.32 

Jackson, Richard 21 

Jack, Matthew 36 

Kuhns, John, tanner, home 3.84 

New brick house 1.72 

5.56 

Kuhns, David, s. m.. 71 

Kuhns, Philip 2.41 

Kuhns, John, Jr 9 

Kerns, Joseph, hatter 1.57 

Kerns. Jacob, saddler 3 01 

Keel, Jacob, shoemaker 87 

Krydcr, John, tinner 93 

Logan, Benj'n, for Ross's house 36 

Logan, widow, for McCasky's house 50 

Lowry. Andrew B. S. 7 

McLaughlin, Randal, s. m 75 

Macklin, Frederick 1,75 

McLaughlin. Charles, self 9 

do for Torney's house 50 

59 

Mell ville, John, weaver 41 

McCutchcon. James 29 

Montgomery, James, Esq 21 

Morrison, John Esq 2.94 

Morford. Lewis 73 

McGuire, Thomas, self l.ng 

do for Jack's lots 54 

2.13 

MeGuire, James, s. ra 64 






m 






m 

M 

m 

M 






McLean, DaYid, printer, s. m 64 

McGuire, Patrick, Sr ii 

McGuire, Patrick, saddler, s. m. self 70 

do for Kerns's house 57 

1.27 

McLelland, John 78 

Mulherron. Edward, s. m 57 

Morrow, Paul. Esq 3.00 

Mitchell, Jesse, carpenter 16 

Melville, James B. L.. s., ni o6 



McCIintock. John, for Hamill'n's house 29 

Marchand, David, doctor 1.86 

McDowell, Mrs., for McGuire's house.. 1.00 

Prater, Benjamin, doctor 30 

Postlthway te. James, doctor 2.60 

Porter, John, barber 12 

Probascoe, John, s. m., self 70 

do for Carr's house 57 

127 

Reed, John. Esq 2. 14 




RESIDENCE OP MR. BENNETT K.ASK. 

Hawthorne Avenue. 



Rohrer, George, teacher 37 

Rohrer, Frederick, Esq 

Rieley, William, s. m 57 

Ross, Thomas, tinner 44 

Rohrer. Frederick, saddler, s. m 64 

Stake. Michael, Rev 1.46 

Singer. Simon, self 30 

do for Kerns's house 2.14 

2.44 

Singer. Samuel B. S 93 

Steele, Joseph, self 7 

do for Isett's house 86 

93 

Syboth, Tobias, self 9 

do for Hugh's house 57 

66 

Stewart. Margaret, widow I.OO 

Smith, Moses, s. m 57 

Schaeffer, John, merchant 3.44 

Spencer, ChrisLopher 49 

SiniLh, John, nailor, self 1,23 

do for Jack's lot 14 

1.37 

Straw, Michael, potter 84 

Spayd, . doctor, self 26 

do for Kahns's house 1.79 

2 05 

Torney, Adam, coppersmith, self 16 

do for Mrs. McCully's house 1.07 

1.23 

Tomey, Jacob, self 20 

do for Singer's house 1.14 

1.34 

Troxell, Daniel, self 13 

do for Kerns's house 79 

92 

Torney. Simon, carpenter, s. m 61 

Tower, Gad H., teacher 29 

Underwood, Morrison, s. m 50 

Underwood, James, printer, s. m 64 

Waggoner, John, haiter 36 

Williams. Robert, Esq.. self 1.24 

do for Jack's lot 17 

1.41 

Williams. John B., merchant 14 

Williams, Robert, Esq., saddler 1.80 

Wells, John, Esq 2.79 

\V(.-lty, Henry I.97 

Welty. Henry, Jr., s. m 57 

Wclty, Jacob, merchant, s. m 77 

Wynell, William, Rev. self 7 

do for Hugus's house 1.15 

1.22 

Watt, Mrs 50 







m 




METHODIST EPISCTOPAL CHURCH. 

Corner Main and East Second Street. 

First Building, 1833; 2d, 1851; Remodeled, 1885. 



Watterson. James, \ 71 

Thomas, McGuire, agent. / '_ 

Wise, John H., s. m., self o( 

do for Rohrer's house 71 

West, Samuel 1* 



Willianis, Nathan. 

Wise, Jacob iVI.. s. m 50 

WiDiams, William 

Young, John, Esq 2.29 

Total S 179.21 




First and Last Public Execution. 

In December, 178.5. at Haunastown, occurred the tirst execution west of the 
Allegheney mountains under the white man's laws. It was that of ]Mamagh- 
taquin, a Delaware Indian, and Joseph Ross, white. The Indian while in- 
toxicated, had killed a man named Smith, on ground now embraced in Alle- 
o-heny City, but which was then included in Westmoreland county. Ross, a 
young man, of questionable sanity, was accused and convicted of an un- 
natural crime, which was, at that time, punishable by death. Both were 
hanged on the same day by Sherifl' Robert Orr. 

It ^vas nearly forty-five years thereafter when the next execution took 
place in this county. The culprit, on that occasion, was Joseph Evans, an 
illiterate and vicious man, not yet 22 years of age. With others he was em- 
ployed on the reuusylvania canal in Derry township, near Blairsville. On 
the night of December 31, 1829, during a drunken quarrel over a game of 
cards, Evans accidentally struck John Cissler with a shovel. Either from 
the blow, or because of his head coming in contact with an iron kettle, in 
the fall, Cissler sustained fatal injuries. Evans was tried and convicted of 
murder in the first degree before his honor. Judge John Young, in the 
county court at Greensburg. He expiated his crime on April 20, 1830. His 
was the first and last public execution at Greensburg. At 1 o'clock p. m. , 
on the day named, the two local military companies, the Westmoreland 
Artillery, Capt. John B. Alexander, and the Greensburg Blues, Capt. ^lorri- 
son Underwood, appeared in front of the Court House. Evans was brought 
from the jail in charge of Sheriff John Klingensmith, Jr., and attended by 
[70] 




his spiritual advisers. Revs. Steck, Hacks, Laird and Mech- 
Jing, together with a number of county officials and leading 
citizens. The battalion formed a hollow square, inclosing 
the condemned man. As the procession moved to the place 
of execution, Evans walked behind a cart containing his 




coffin. The gallows was located on the east side of the bor- 
ough, near a cluster of oak trees, the site now being covered 
by the tracks of the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad. The. 
exact spot is about 450 feet south of the junction of Brewery 
Avenue with Urania Avenue. Evans was cool and composed 
throughout all of the solemn proceedings. In his last 
words he attributed his ignominious end to gamlsling and 
strong drink, and admonished his hearers at all times to 
eschew those evils. The surging crowd present is said to 
have been the largest ever gathered in a single assemblage 
in Westmoreland county up to that time. It was estimat- 
ed as high 10,000 and embraced persons from neighboring 
counties. The condition and conduct of many of the 
spectators indicated that they regarded themselves at a 
festival of Momus rather than in the presence of death. 
Thoughtful and sensible persons were shocked and ex- 
pressed the earnest hope that this would be the ]a.stjmhli.a 
execution, at least, that should ever take place in Greens- 
luirg. That hope was realized. Evans' body was inter- 
red under the gibbet, but it is said to have mysteriously 
disappeared during the night. 



The Public Press, 

Greensburg's first newspaper, or rather first two news- 
papers, bore the title of The Farmers' Register. One edi- 
tion was printed in English and another in German. The 
p ^j , initial number of The Register; in English, appeared May 



m 








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24r, 1799, and the first issue of the German edition not long 
thereafter. The founders of the two Registers were John 
M. Snowden and William McCorkle, his brother-in-law. 
Bbtii were practical printers. After the completion of their 
apprenticeship, they were engaged for some time in the 
printing business in Philadelphia. Lnmediately prior to 




KESIDENCE OF MRS. KEBECCA BARCLAY 
North Main Street. 



coming to Greensburg, howe\'er, Messrs. Snowden & Mc- 
Corkle had estaljlished a paper at Chambersburg, Pa. 

Just how long the German edition of The Farmers' Regis- 
ter was published has not been ascertained. It is known, 
however, that it had an existence for, at least, three years. 
In addition to publishing their two papers, Messrs. Snowden 
& McCorkle printed almanacs and other books. . 
On May 21, 1803, the firm dissolved partner- 
ship, Mr. McCorkle and his family returning to 
Philadelphia. The publication of The Register 
was continued by Mr. Snowden. In 1808 he 
disposed of The Register property to William S. 
Graham. The latter conducted the paper until 
his death, February 21, 181.5. Mrs. Jane 
Graham, his widow, became his successor. 
James Underwood, Joseph Clingen and H. W. 
Peterson published The Register "for Jane 
(Jraham," at various periods, in the succession 
named, until October 10, 1818. 

Although The Register was a Jefl'ersonian 
journal from the beginning, it was regarded by 
the active politicians of that faith as not being 
sufliciently vigorous in tone, after Mr. Gra- 
ham's death. Accordingly, a new press and 
outfit were purchased by a number of leading 
party men. Frederick A. Wise, a practical 
printer and native of Greensburg, but then em- 
ployed in Baltimore, was persuaded to return 



te 



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to this place and become the publisher of the new paper. 
By repaying the original contributors, he was to be per- 
mitted to acquire absolute ownership of the printing estab- 
lishment and newspaper property, which he subsequently 
effected. The Westmoreland Republican was the title of the 




new journal, and the first number was issued on Saturday, 
April 25, 1818. It was neatly printed and ably edited. Its 
rapid success evidently made marked inroad on the older 
paper, the name of which had been changed by Mr. Graham 
to The Westmoreland and Indiana Register, and, still later, 
by Mrs. Graham, to Greensburg Register. The 
latter, in October, 1818, disposed of the sub- 
scription list and good will of her paper to the 
owners of The Republican. Immediately there- 
after the office of The Republican was trans- 
ferred to that of the Register, the two papers 
consolidated, and, for some time, published as 
The Westmoreland Republican and Greensburg 
Register. On April 15, 1825, the title was 
transformed to Westmoreland Republican and 
Farmers' Chronicle. Desiring to emigrate to 
the Mississippi Valley, Frederick A. Wise, in 
March, 1830, sold the newspaper property to 
Jose])h Russell. In April, 1811, jNIr. Russell 
associated David K. Marchand with him in its 
pulilication. Three years later Mr. Marchand 
purchased his partner's interest and became sole 
owner. Andrew Graham, in 1856, became part, 
and, in 1861, absolute pi-oprietor of the paper. 
A year later James F. Campbell & Co. acquired 
the establishment, and in January, 1863, dis- 
posed of it to William A. Stokes. 



Meanwhile Eidward J. Keenan and John Klingen- 
smith, Jr., started a paper entitled, The Greensburg 
Democrat, the tirst impression being put forth on 
November 18, 1853. Klingeusmith died in 18.54, and, 
in 1857, Mr. Keenan associated his brother, William 




ItESIUENLE A.Xl-' ul'l'lCIO UF LUt. li. 1'.. IIAM.MEH. 
South Main Street. 



W., with him in the business. In June, 1858, the firm named was 
changed to James Keenan & Co., and embraced three lirothers. 
James Keenan, who had been United States Consul at Hong Kong, 
died in 18(i2, and Edward J. having enlisted in the armj^, William 
W. Keenan became the sole proprietor of The Democrat. 

On August 26, 1864, W. W. Keenan purchased The Westmoreland 
Republican from Mr. Stokes, and merged the two papers under the 
name Rcpulilican & Democrat. After the civil war Edward J. 
Keenan again acquired an interest in the property. On January 1, 
1871, the Keenan brothers sold the estalilishment to Dr. W. J. K. 
Kline and his cousin, S. A. Kline, Esq. The latter, in October, 1872, 
transferred his interest to A. B. Kline, the firm then becoming 
Kline & Bro. Because of the .seemingly confusing character of the 
title (the word Republican having lost its old-time association with 
the Democracy by reason of adoption as the name of a comparatively 
new opposing political party) was changed, on January 1, 1876, to 
The Westmoreland Democrat. Messrs. Kline & Bro., on November 
22, 1882, sold The Democrat property to B. F. Vogle and T. R. 
Winsheimer, lay whom the paper has since been, and is now, pub- 
lished. 

Greensljurgh Gazette was the name of the second English paper 
founded in this place. It was started by David Maclean, tlie first 
number being issued August 22, 1811. The Gazette was a Federal- 
ist journal. Mr. Maclean, in October, 1822, disposed of the estab- 
lishment to Frederick J. Cope, and removed to Pittsburg, where,., 
with his Ijrother, he purchased The Gazette, of that city, and con- 
ducted it for seven j^ears. John Black & Son succeedetl Mr. Cope 
as the owners of the Greensburgh Gazette. The elder Black retiring 



"^m 



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in 1832, his son, William F., became the editor and changed 
the title to The AVestmoreland Intelligencer. On the death 
of the younger Black, not long thereafter, the ownership 
passed to Reece C. Fleeson. In Fel^ruary, 1834, John Ramsey 
bought the outfit, and, following his death, John Armstrong, 
Esq. , senior, acqnired the property in November, 1839. 



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RESIDENCE OF MRS. C. H. STAKK, 
Corner West Otterman Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. 



Joseph Miller, late of Harrisburg, came to Greensburg, 
and, on February 9, 1838, issued the first number of a Ger- 
man paper, entitled Western Democrat. Notwithstanding 
the name, it was a Federalist, anti- Masonic journal. One year 
later, in Feliruary, 1839, Jonathan Row purchased the equip- 
ment and assumed the editorship, of the Western Democrat. 
In May, 1840, Mr. Row discontinued the publication of 
the German paper and started an English perodical call- 
ed The Greensburg Sentinel. It was a stong advocate 
of Gen. William Henry Harrison for President. 

Jonathan Row, in February, 1842, sold The Sentinel 
to John Armstrong, Sr., owner of The Intelligencer, 
and the two papers were consolidated under the name 
of The Intelligencer and Sentinel. Mr. Armstrong re- 
tired as editor in May, 1844, leaving The Intelligencer 
and Sentinel in charge of his sons, James and Robert. 
In 1850 D. AV. Shryock purchased the establishment, 
and, in advocacy of the American or Know Nothing 
party cause, changed the title to American Herald. 
Subsequently, on the organization of the Republican 
party, it was again changed to The Greensburg Herald. 
James R. McAfee, Esq., on July 22, 1870, issued the 
first number of a new Republican paper — the Greens- 
burg Tribune. In January, 1872, D. S. Atkinson and 
T. J. Weddell, Esqrs., bought The Herald outfit and 
good will from Mr. Shryock, and one month later, the 
papers were united, under the style of Tribune and 
Herald, with Messrs. McAfee, Atkinson & Weddell as 





^g|g editors and owners. The latter, on Jan- 
^^) uary IS, 1874, sold his interest to the 

^®> senior partners and withdrew from the 






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FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING. 
Main Street. 



linn. About April 1, ISSS, John M. Peoples, Esq., became identified with the 
proprietorship of the Tribune and Herald and the firm name was changed to Mc- 
Afee, Atkinson & Peoples. On the death of Mr. McAfee, in April, 1890, the 
newspaper property was purchased in its entirety by the surviving partners. A 
stock company, called Tribune Publishing Company, which was incorporated 
Septeml)er i, 1890, became possessed of the good will and printing establishment. 
The stockholders, constituting the company, were j\Iessrs. D. S. Atkinson, John 
'SI. Peoples, W. J. Hitchman, George F. Huff, E. F. Houseman and Elmer E. 
Lyon. The capital stock, as stated in the charter, is §2.5,000, divided into two hun- 
dred and fifty shares, of SlOO each. In the meantime, however, the Greensburg 
Daily Tribune had l)een established, the first number being issued February 4, 
ISSK. The publication of the weekly. Tribune and Herald, was continued until 
June 10, 1896, when it was converted into a semi-weekly joarnal. Although there 
have been some subsequent transfers, as to the ownership of a part of the stock, 
both the daily and semi-weekly issues have since been and are now published liy 
the Tribune Publishing Company. 

The Pennsylvania Argus was estaljlished in 1832 liy Messrs. Jacob S. Steck and 
George liippey. Then, as now, it was Democratic in polities. ^Nlr. Rippey died 
Jul}' 27, 1833, and his interest passed into the possession of Mr. Steck. The latter, 
during his editorial career, for a short time, also published a German paper, in 
connection with The Argus. Mr. Steck continued as owner and director of The 
Argus until 1839, when Jeremiah M. Burrell, Esq.. subsequently President 
Judge of the Courts, purchased the estalilishineut and assumed the editorship. In 
July, 1841, Joseph Cort succeeded Mr. Burrell as the owner and editor. He con- 
tinued in that capacity until July, 1844, when he disposed of the outfit and good 
will to Messrs. Samuel S. Turney and William H. Hacke, both of whom were 
practical printers. Those gentlemen published the paper until 1850, when it was 
purchased by John ]\I. Laird, Esq., also a practical printer and experienced news- 
' [T6] ^ 



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paper man. Mr. Laird continued in active direction of The 
Argus, with the assistance of his sons, in later years, until 
the time of his death, January 25, 1887. The ownership and 
editorship then passed to Messrs. James M. and F. V. B. 
Laird, sons of the deceased, by whom the paper is still con- 
ducted, under the fii-m name of John M. Laird's Sons. 




The Greensburg Press was founded by Messrs. James H. 
Kyckman and James B. Laux. The initial number of the 
daily edition, called The Evening Press, appeared May 18, 
1881. It was an independent, local journal. June 6, 1881. 
was the date of the beginning of the weekly issue, entitled 
The Greensliurg Press, which was an avowed Republican 
paper. The printing press and outfit of type, which 
had been purchased by the gentlemen named, were 
the same that had been used at various times prev- 
iously in the puljlication of Frank Cowan's Paper, 
The Democratic Times, The National Issue, and The 
Daily Evening News. Mr. Ryckman, at the end of 
three and one-half months, September 1, 1881, sold 
his interest to Hilary J. Brunot. Very soon there- 
after Mr. Brunot became sole owner. In January, 
1889, The Evening Press was changed from an inde- 
pendent to a Republican paper. The weekly issue 
was transformed into a semi-weekly in the spring of 
1896. Although Mr. Brunot was the proprietor of 
The Press from 1882 until the atitumn of 1897, its 
editorial management, during that period, was under 
the direction, at different times, of James B. Laux 
and R. M. McCreary. About the middle of Septem- 
ber, 1897, The Press establistment and good will 
were purchased by a number of gentlemen, who se- 
cured a charter of incorporation on October 2.5, 1897, 
as the Greensburg Press Company. The capital stock 
of the company is §15,000, divided into one hundred 




SECOND UEFORMF.D CHURCH. 
North Main Street. 
First Building, erected 1851; second, 1 



and fifty shares of §100 each. Messrs. James S. Beacom, James B. Ham- 
mond, John :\I. Jamison, Walter J. Christy and David L. Newill constitute 
the stockholders. Mr. Christy is the editor of the several editions of The 
Press. 

PAPERS OF THE PAST. 

Western Press was the name of a German paper in existence at Greens- 
bnr^ in 1816. Although not definitely known, it is believed that its editor 
or pul)lisher was Jacob Schuee. At that time Mr. Schnee conducted a 
German book store and printing office on Main Street. He printed Ger- 
man A B C books, almanacs and catechisms. His books were sold in Pitts- 
burg and many of the cities and towns of Ohio. 

Westmoreland News was the title of a Republican journal, started in 
Greensliurg in 1862, and discontinued the following year. The editor was 
John B. Crooks. 

Frank Cowan's Paper was established in :\lay, 1872, by the gentleman 
whose name it bore. Its aim was to promote the development of the re- 
sources of Southwestern Pennsylvania. The publication was continued 
for three years. 

The Democratic Times was pulilished from September 1, 187.5, until 
the spring of 1877, by Edward J. Keenan, Esq., B. F. Vogle, "William P. 
Fischer and F. Flam Rhorer. As the name indicated, it was a Democratic 
journal. 

The National Issue, a Greenback party organ, was started in September, 
1878, by Messrs. John T.Fulton, John Rugh, George W. Rumbaugh, 
William Armbru.st and L. F. Armbrust. Aliout April 1, 1881, The Issue 
estalilishment passed into possession of John T. Fulton and Rev. Uriel 
Graves. They liegan the publication, in addition to The Issue, of a paper 
[78] 






called The Daily Evening News. A month later the good 
will and printing outfit were sold to Messrs. Ryckman and 
Laux. 

The Greensburg Record was founded April 1, 1886, by 
Messrs. Darwin Musick and Daniel P. Stahl. It was issued 




as a daily and weekly. Both were Democratic journals. The 
publication of the daily edition was discontinued in Decem- 
ber, 1892, and the weekly on September 11, 189.5. 

The Independent was the name of a weekly paper, devoted 
to the interests of labor, established by L. F. Armbrust. 

The first number appeared August 6, 1887. It was 

published until July, 1891. 

The Greensburg Sun ^vas the title of a weekly, inde- 

pendendent journal, the first and last issue of which 

was presented July 1, 1896. Its projectors were Messrs. 

Darwin Musick and George Wagoner. 



RESIDENCE OF MR. I. OPPENHEIM. 
North Harrison Avenue. 



Coming ol the Railroad. 

During the first half of the present century, West- 
moreland's Senators and Representatives in the General 
Assembly were men of more than ordinary ability and 
influence in State afi'airs. They were vigilant in guard- 
ing, and tireless in trying to promote, the interests of 
the county which they represented. By their alertness 
and sagacity, they managed to have Westmoreland in- 
cluded in all the great internal improvements under- 
taken and fostered by the Commonwealth, such as the 
turnpikes, canals and railroads. Moreover, in those 
days citizens were likewise active in sustaining their 
Representatives by petitions, and county and town 
meetings, in which local sentiment was expressed by 



»_ 



[79] 




formal resolutions, on matters of public concern. So it was 
when the railroad from the eastern to the western section of 
the Strife was proposed. Although the lirst train did not run 
through from Philadelphia to Pittsburg until December, 
18ii2, the residents of tiroensburg began preparing to effect 




that notalile event twenty years previously. A public meet- 
ing was held in (Jreensbarg on April 19, 1836, at which the 
action of the Legislature, at a recent session, in passing an 
Act ]3roviding for the survey of a route from the western 
base of the Laurel Hill, liy way of (ireensburg, to Pittsburg, 
was higlily approved. The survey wasinade l)y 
Engineer Charles DeHaas, under the direction of 
the Canal Commissioners. His report, made in 
.lanuary, 1S37, was of a favorable character so far 
as related to that part of the route in the vicinity 
of (ireensburg, which was specially mentioned as 
a point to be embraced in the line of the proposed 
road. The Act incorporating the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Company was passed by the Legislature 
on Ajjril 13, lS4-(i, and the charter granted by the 
Governor on Fel)ruary '_';">, 184-7. 

Work on the construction of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad, in the immediate vicinity of Greensburg, 
legan in the year 1849. That section of the line 
including the tunnel and the extensive embank- 
ments, tills or "'dumps," for about one-half mile 
to the east, and the same distance to the west of 
the tunnel, was awarded to Contractor Michael 
Malone. The section west of the town, or Lud- 
wick borough, which comprehended the old Rade- 
l)augh tunnel, was under the contract of Richaril 
!McGrann, Jr. Charles McCausland was the con- 




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tractor for the section to the eastward, beginning with the 
excavation or "cut" at the old Fair Grounds. 

The tunnel, cut and large embankments on the north side 
of Greensburg, as can be readily imagined, was exceptionally 
heavy and tedious work. It required about three years for 







Ci W:^ 





•'"'^^^Kvta 



CARRIAGE WORKS CONDUCTED BY MR. H. 51. GUY. 
Comer East Pittsburg Street and St. Clair Avenue. 



the completion of that .section. Contractor Malone had ex- 
tensive Ijlacksmith and repair shops, during the progress of 
the construction, located on the Commons, in the vicinity of 
of what is now Tunnel Street, between North Maple Avenue 
and North Main Street. When the hour for ceasing labor 
arrived, at noon and night, a huge, sonorous horn was 
blown at the lilacksmith shops and the array of men, 
with the hundreds of horses and carts, stretching in a 
continuous line from the "Y,"' east of Greensburg, to 
the western limits of Ludwick borough, presented a 
\ very animated spectacle in hustling for their quarters. 
The men employed were almost entirely hardy and 
light-hearted sons of Erin's isle. All the earth for the 
extensive embankments, east and west of the Greens- 
l)urg tunnel, was transported in carts. In excavating 
for the tunnel, and the cuts on both sides, a large 
amount of heavy blasting was necessary. It was custo- 
mary to prepare a score or two of blasts and discharge 
them simultaneou.sly. At such times, the detonation 
was like the bombardment of an army. All the win- 
dows in the quiet town rattled under the force of the 
concussion, and the nervous housewives were seized with 
many fits and starts. The presence of the vast multi- 
tude of railroad laborers was frequently made manifest 
in the evenings and on wet days, about the village, by 
numerous fights and small riots. When not at work 
most of the laborers visited the Ijarrooms and imbibed 
freely, the price of a prime brand of fighting whiskey 



at that time being three cents a glass. Only in one instance, 
during the wet-day general drunks, however, did a fatal en- 
counter occur. A man was mortally injured, in a maudlin 
quarrel, at a doggery on South Main Street, opposite the 
Masonic Temple. Comparatively few disputes or differences 
arose between employers and employes on the sections of 



Sett » 




RESIDENCE OF THE HEIRS OF JNO. ARMSTKONQ, ESQ. 

North Main Street. [ 82 



railroad construction in Greensburg and vicinity. A strike 
occurred in thi.s locality in November, 1850. Because of the 
shortness of the days, or daylight, at that season, the con- 
tractors issued orders that wages of the common laborers be 
reduced, for a time, from one dollar to 87i cents.per day. 
It was against such reduction that the strike was inaugurated. 
An adjustment was effected, however, after a 
week of idleness, and work i-esumed. 

The first locomotive which entered West- 
moreland county, crossed the western border. 
It arrived at Radebaugh's (two miles west of 
Greensburg) from Pittsburg on ^Monday, July 
5, 1S52. Intelligence as to the time and place 
of the first appearance of the "iron horse," had 
spread throughout the surrounding country for 
many miles. As a result, there was an immense 
crowd assembled to witness the uuprecedented 
event. Many persons went from Greensburg to 
Radebaugh's on that day. An enterprising indi- 
vidual, with an eye on the main ciiance, had pro- 
cured a license and was on the ground early with 
a 1 iberal store of whiskey. As was to be expected, 
with such a large gala day gathering, the liquor 
dealer did a brisk business. It 'is almost need- 
less to add that the usual consequences followed. 
There were numerous drunken tights, with the 
attendant bloody noses, contused eyes and 
broken heads. Visitors who were not addicted 
] 



drink and those who remained sober viewed the railroad 
engine with deep and curious interest. It was the first 
locomotive that nearly all of them had ever seen. It 
was scanned and studied in all its parts to discover, if 
possible, the secret of its hidden, mighty power. As the 




day of the "iron horse's" fir.st visit to Westmoreland was the 
one immediately following Independence Day, which had fallen 
on Sunday, the occasion also embodied the festal and patriotic 
spirit of a Fourth of July demonstration. 

The Railroad Company, on Thursday, July 1.5, 1852, began 
running trains regularly from Pittsburg to Radebaugh's. An 
accommodation train left Radebaugh kStation at 6 o'clock, a. m., 
and arrived at Pitt.sburg at 8 o'clock, a. m. Returning, the 
train left Pittsburg at 6:30 o'clock, p. m., and arrived at'Rade- 
augh at 8 o'clock, p. m. The fare either way was 80 cents. 

PIRST LOCOMOTIVE INTO GREENSBTJRG. 

Monday, November 29, 1852, was the most eventful day in 
the history of the railroad, so far as it ailected Greensburg. A 
ocomotive made its appearance for the first time, on that day, 
within sight of the borough. It passed and repassed over the 
large embankments on the east and west sides of the Greens- 
burg tunnel. The purpose was to test the stability and safety 
of those massive fills. On the afternoon of that day, a train 
traversed the entire length of the railroad, without mishap, 
through Westmoreland county. Citizens of the borough gener- 
ally, of all ages, sexes and conditions, gathered in the neighbor- 
hood of the railroad to observe the first train passing through 
from the east to the west. It was not until December 10, of 
that year, however, that the first train ran the whole distance 
from Philadelphia to Pittsburg. 

A small frame station building was erected by the Railroad 
Company for the accommodation of its Greensburg patrons, on 



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ZIU.N'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

Comer Pennsylvania Avenue and West Seeond Street. 

First Building, erected 1851; second, 1878. 



the site of the present brick building. At the time the railroad was tirst put 
in operation, and, until 18(it), the passenger station was outside of the bor- 
ough limits. Notwithstanding that fact, however, the Board of Burgesses 
felt so kindly toward the new enterprise, that they had a plank walk con- 
structed from the corner of Penu.sylvania Avenue and West Otteruian Street 
to the railroad station, at the expense of the borough. 

Pending the completion of the connecting link of the railroad, between 
Beatty's Station and Kadebaugh's, passengers were conveyed from one point 
to the other by stage-coach. It may be here added, as a matter of historic 
interest, that, during the building of the railroad and for some time after its 
com]iletion, there was much mournful murmuring of the distress and ruin 
that it would produce. It was claimed that the railroad would supplant all 
the wagons and stages, operating on the turnpike, and throw hundreds of 
persons out of employment, and render almost valueless the investments in 
the vast number of wagons and stage-coaches. It vras likewise maintained 
that the railroad would divert travel from the turnpike, and therel;)y finan- 
cially ruin all the innkeepers along that thoroughfare. While these claims 
were not without foundation, it was impossible then, as now, to check the 
spirit of progress. Wagoners, stage-coach owners and drivers, and turnpike 
tavern-keepers, gradually adapted themselves, but not without some pecuni- 
ary loss, no doubt, to the new conditions. 

John Fulhvood was the tirst ticket and freight agent of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad at (h-eeusburg. Below is the schedule of the arrival and departure 
of trains at (ireensburg, April 21, 1853: 

Eastward. — Fast passenger train, l(i:35 \.' m.; second passenger train, 
10:45 p. ji.; accommodation to Latrobe, 7:06 r. m.; freight, 0:25 i". Ji. 

Westward. — First passenger train, 4:16 A. m. ; accommodation train, 6:(»5 
A. M.; fast passenger train. 6:01 a. m. : freight, 12:20 a. m. 
[ 84 ] 



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Freight rates. — Flour, to Philadelphia, 75 cents per barrel: 
whiskey, to Philadelphia, 40 cents per 100 pounds. All 
freight 20 cents lower than winter rates. 

Both passenger and freight traffic increased very rapidly, 
from day to day, after the line was put in regular operation. 




»_ 



RESIDE^X•E OF MR. JOHN W. POLLINS. 
Corner South Pennsylvania Avenue and Fourth Street. 



For some time, immediately follo\ving the opening of the 
road, there were frequent delays and irregularities in the 
movement of the trains, as compared with the scheduled 
time. All such causes of complaint, however, were speedily 
overcome as the employes of the road became more familiar 
with their duties, and the imperfections in the road- 
bed were removed. The total tonnage of freight 
shipped from Green.sburg, between January 1 and 
June .30, 1853, was 3,fiSl,304 pounds. The official 
report of the Railroad Company, for the year 1S53, 
showed that 17,319 passengers departed, and 15,553 
arrived, at Greensburg, during that year, and that 
the cash receipts at the Greensburg station for pas- 
sengers were §14,698.17. 

Some information as the kind of goods shipped 
from Greensburg is furnished in the annexed state- 
ment, which represents the freight dispatched from 
this place for the week ending January .31, 1854: 
1,151 barrels of flour; 68 barrels of whiskey; 20 
barrels of cloverseed; 5,744 pounds of pork; 430 
reams of paper; 200 bushels of corn; 100 bushels of 
oats: 911 pounds of fresh butter; 392 pounds of lard; 
55 dozen of brooms; and 2,571 dozen of poultry. 

Prior to Fel^ruary 15, 1854, trains on the Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad crossed the Allegheny mountains by 
way of the old Portage road. On that day, however, 
the new line of the road, "without incline planes," 

was completed and put into use, together with the 
[85] 



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big: Gallitzin tunnel. Referring to this great acliievement, a 
local paper, of that date, said: "The time between Greens- 
burg and Philadelphia, by the Express train, will be 13 hours, 
34 minutes; and between this place and Pittsburg, 1 hour and 
15 minutes. This, truly, is annihilating time and space. But 




SIUENLI! I>F MK. GEORGE A. HAYS. 

Harrison Avenue. 



a short time .since a man thought he was doing well to make 
Philadelphia in 60 hours; now he can do it in one-fourth the 
time that he could then, and travel the same distance with 
infinitely less expense and fatigue. Verily, this is an age of 
progress." 

At the time the Pennsylvania Railroad was com- 
pleted and ]3ut in operation, work on the proposed 
Hemptield Railroad, from Greensburgto Wheeling, 
W. Va., by way of Washington, Pa., was well ad- 
vanced. Intheautumn of 1S53 there were froml, 500 
to 2,000 men employed on the various sections in 
the labor of construction. It was e.stimated that the 
cost of the entire road, with the rolling stock, etc., 
would be §2,986,778. A large proportion of that 
sum had already been subscribed or provided for. 
Opposition to the completion of the eastern part 
of the line; that is, from Washington to Greens- 
burg, was manifested in various forms, by citizens 
of Pittsburg, who could not reconcile themselves 
to the idea of that city being passed by. The op- 
position was very active and finally crystallized in 
the building of the Ghartiers road from Washing- 
ton to Pittsburg, and in the ultimate abandonment 
of the eastern end of the Hemptield Railroad to 
Greensburg, the work on which had been well 
under way. 

Another enterprise under serious consideration, 
about the same time, was the Uniontown Branch 



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Kailroad, from Greensburg to Uniontown. It was a propos- 
ed branch of the Pennsylvania Kailroad and was to be carri- 
ed forward under the aid of that corporation. By an Act of 
the General Assembly, passed March 19, 1853, the Burgesses 







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KESIDENCE OF MR. L. KECK. 
North Main Street. 



[87] 



of Greensburg were authorized to subscribe for not exceed- 
ing 1,000 shares of the stock of the Uniontown Branch road, 
and issue borough bonds therefor (650,000), provided the 
same was approved by the taxable inhabitants of Greensburg 
at an election to be held for that purpose. 
Such an election took place on March 7, 
1851, and eighty-five votes were cast for 
the subscription, and seven against the 
same. The project, however, for some 
reason, likewise failed at that time, but a 
similar enterprise was carried to com- 
pletion twenty years afterward, and is now 
recognizable in the thrifty Southwest 
Pennsylvania Kailway. 

Still another railroad project, in which 
citizens of Greensburg, and some other 
sections of Westmoreland county, took a 
deep interest, in 1854, was a proposed line 
from Greensburg to connect with the 
Monongahela & Eavenswood Railroad, 
across the state of (West) Virginia to the 
mouth of the Big Sandy, on the Ohio river. 
It was intended that this road should con- 
nect with the Pennsylvania Railroad, at or 
near Greensburg, and act as a feeder to 
the same. A number of public meetings, 
pertaining to the enterprise, were held in 
Greensburg and delegates appointed to 



attend similar meetings at Fairmount, and other points, in 
Virginia. The contemplated road, however, failed to mater- 
ialize. 




DRUG STORE OF MR. A. E. MARTIN. 
Corner Main and East Pittsburg Street. 



TELKGRAPH LINES. 

The Pennsylvania Railroad Company commenced prepara- 
tions for a telegraph service within less than a year after 
trains began running regularly. A railroad tele- 
graph line was erected through Westmoreland 
county in 18.oi. A telegraph .system, with a single 
wire, had been constructed along the turnpike a 
few years previously. After the railroad tele- 
graph line was completed, however, that aligning 
the turnpike fell into disuse, along with the thor- 
oughfare itself, and the general business drifted to 
the railroad route. The telegraph office, for a 
number of years, was in a basement room of what 
is now the Fisher House, on West Pittsburg 
Street. There was no other office between Greens- 
burg and Pittsburg. 

At Greensburg, as well as elsewhere, when the 
telegraph was first introduced, less than sixty 
years ago, it was but vaguely or imperfectly un- 
derstood by persons not familiar with the latest 
discoveries in science. It is said to have been a 
verj' ordinary sight, immediately following the 
erection of the line along the turnpike, to see per- 
sons standing on that highway at various points, 
viewing with wrapt interest the wire in both direc- 
tions as far as it was within sight. The invariable 
explanation as to their purpose, on the part of 
such individuals, was that thev were watching to 



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see a message go by. The notion which most persons, of 
ordinary intelligence, entertained at that early day seemed 
to be that the messages were transmitted after the manner of 
articles on a rope or "wire ferry," across a river or ravine. 



Imagining that the message was an object, instead of an elec- 
tric current, the curious spectators could not satisfy them- 
selves as to just how the message passed the posts to which 
the wire was attached, and it was mainly to solve that mys- 
tery that the watchers desired to observe a 
message go by. 




KESIDEXCE OF MRS. MARY J. WOODS. 
South Main Street. 



Third Court House and Jail at Greensburg. 

In the course of the decade between 1S40 and 
1850, the population of Westmoreland increased 
over 9,001), being greatly in excess of any like 
period in the preceding half century. The 
building of the Pennsylvania Railroad, together 
with the proposed construction of several other 
railroads through sections of the county, and 
the prospects of the early commencement of 
the active development of the great coal fields 
of Westmoreland, aroused the representative 
citizens to the belief that an era of unprece- 
dented activity and prosperity, was aliout to 
dawn on this section. Accordingly the need of 
more modern and commodious public buildings 
was recognized. The erection of a new Court 
House and prison was generally discussed and 
approved. Formal recommendations to that 
effect were made by the grand jury and author- 
ized by the court. 



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In conformity therewith, in the spring of 1853, County 
Commissioners Henry Swartz, Simon Detar andJesse Walton 
adopted phiiis for a Court House, Sherifl"s dwelling and prison, 
furnished liy J. Edgar. Those plans were subsequently set 
aside, however, and a new plan, formulated liy Architect 




TIMKI) CCIVRT HOISE AT (iREENSBlKU. 
Erected 1554. 



.Samuel Sloan, a resident of Philadelphia, but a native of 
Westmoreland, were substituted. A contract was entered 
into with Messrs. Bell & Arnold to remove the old buildings 
and erect the new ones. The price concluded upon was 
$i6,7O0, with allowances for extra work. 

Very soon thereafter the building of the Sheriff's house 
and jail was commenced. These buildings were located on 
lot No. 6, (see plan, page 13), which the county had acquired. 
They aligned on the «est side of the alley, the Sherifi's 
dwelling running out to and facing on West Pittsburg Street. 
The house was a large two-story stone and brick structure. 
Immediately back of and connected with the Sheriff's dwelling 
was the county prison, a two-story stone building. Entrance 
to the corridor of the jail was through the main hallway of 
the Sheritt's house, the two being divided or separated liy a 
large iron grating and an inside iron door. The prison con- 
tained ten cells on the tirst floor and a like number in the 
second tier. In the basement were four dungeon apartments. 
The corridor of the jail extended from the first floor to the 
roof, in which was a skylight. The Sheriff's house was ready 
for roofing in December, 1853, and the heavy foundation walls 
of the jail had been laid, but work on the latter was dis- 
continued for several months because of cold weather. In 
the east side of the Sherifi's house, on the first floor, were 
several spacious office rooms, entrance to which was by way 
of the alley. 

Early in A])ril, 1^^.51, the contractors began tearing down 
the old jail, in the rear of the Court House, on the Court 



House lot (see diagram, page 37). During the interval be- 
tween the demolition of the old prison and the completion of 
the new one, the prisoners were kept in the Allegheny coun- 
ty jail. The work of razing the old Court House commenced 




EESIDENOE OF irii. JAMES C. WENTZELL. 
West Newton Avenue. 



the first week in May, 18.54. In the meantime, some of the 
county ofEces were removed to the office apartments in the 
new Sheriff's house, while others occupied the old office 
buildings on the Court House lot. In August of that year, 
however, all the county offices were removed to the 
Sheriff's house. The May term of court, 1854, was 
held in the basement of the Methodist church, then a 
comparatively new building. The courts at all subse- 
quent terms, until the completion of the present Court 
House, in 1856, sat in that church. 

LAYING OF THE CORNER STONE OF 
THE COURT HOUSE. 

About the only notable formality in connection with 
the new Court House was in the laying of the corner 
stone. The proceeding took place on Tuesday, October 
24, 1854, in the presence of a large and representative 
assemblage. Officers for the meeting had been selected 
by the Board of County Commissioners, and were an- 
nounced by Major William H. Hacke, clerk of the 
Board, as follows : 

President — Gen. Henry D. Foster. 

Vice Presidents — John Armstrong, Sr., Esq., Samuel 
Hill, Esq., Major Joseph Jack, General C. P. Markle, 
Peter Uncapher, Dr. B. R. Marchand, Dr. John Morri- 
son, John Kuhns, Esq., John Snodgrass, Esq., Dr. 
Thompson Richardson, John Covode, Dr. Baldridge. 



^§^ Secretaries — ^Messrs. March:ind and Graham, of The West- 

^|§[ moreland Republican; Laird and Rook, of The Pennsylvania 
^2^ Argus; Keenan and Klingensniith, of the Greensburg Demo- 
crat; D. W. Shryock, of the Westmoreland Intelligencer, 
and Major Israel Uncapher. 




RESIDENCE OF MR. JOHN V. STEPHENSnN, 
Corner Park Street and Walnut Avenue. 



After a few introductory remarks bj^ the President of the 
meeting, he called upon Rev. Mr. Valentine, who opened 
the exercises with a beautiful and appropriate petition to the 
Throne of Grace. David K. jNIarchand, one of the Secre- 
taries, then read a list of the articles to be deposited in the 
corner stone, as follows: 

1. Early history of Western Pennsylvania and of the 

West, including an account of the burning of Hannas- 

tow n, said to be from the pen of the late Judge Coulter. 

1'. English and (lerman Bibles. 

3. First annual Report of the State Agricultural 

Society of Pennsylvania. 

4-. Williamson''s Traveling Guide through the United 
States and Canada. 

5. Thomson's Autographical Counterfeit Detector. 

6. Thomson's Coin Chart Manual. 

7. Map of the Horough of Greensburg. 

8. English and German Almanacs for 18.54 and 18.55. 

9. Newspapers — Weekly National Intelligencer, 
Semi- Weekly National Intelligencer, Washington Globe, 
Washington, D. C. ; The Westmoreland Republican, 
Westmoreland Intelligencer, The Pennsylvania Argus, 
(ireensburg Democrat, Greensburg, Pa.; Valley Demo- 
crat, Ligonier; Daily I'nion, Daily Morning Post, The 
Evening Chronicle, Western Republican, (German), 
Pittsliurg, Pa. ; The Pennsylvanian, The National Argus, 
Philadelphia, Pa.; the Keystone, Harrisburg Union, 



Harrisburg, Pa. ; New York Tribune, Weekly Herald, New 
York. 

10. Stamps of the Seals of the County Officers of AVest- 
moreland county, with the autographs of the respective 
Officers. 




11. Certificate of the County Commissioners of the laying 
of the corner stone, signed by them and the contractors. 

12. Sample of Westmoreland Corn, raised by Alex. Hitch- 
man, of Mt. Pleasant, Pa. Sample of Westmoreland Countj^ 
Wheat, presented by Eanisey & Neely, millers, Greensburg, 

Pa. Sample of Westmoreland County Oats, presented 
by Alex. Hanna, Esq., South Huntingdon township, 
Westmoreland county. Pa. Sample of Westmoreland 
County Rye, presented by Jesse Walton, Esq., of 
Franklin township, Westmoreland county. Pa. Sample 
of AVestmoreland County Buckwheat, presented by 
Simon Detar, Esq., of Hempfield township, Westmore- 
land county. Pa. 

13. An Engraving, being a relic from the Congres- 
sional Library which was destroyed by fire on the 24-th 
of December, 18.51, with the respects of Linn Boyd, 
Speaker of H. R., presented by Col. D. K. Marchand. 

14. List of the National, State and County Officers 
of the United States of America, Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania, County of Westmoreland and Borough 
Officers for Greensburg borough, for 18.54. 

15. Seventh Annual Report of the Directors of the 
Pennnsylvania Railroad Company. 

16. List of the County Officers of the State of Penn- 
sylvania. 

17. An abstract of the Seventh Census, 1850, show- 
ing the population of the several Counties of Pennsyl- 
vania. 




g^im^. 




UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH. 

Corner West Otternian Street and Bruston Avenue, 

First BuildinK, erected 1857; second, 1879. 



18. A Statement of the Receipts and Expenditures of Westmore- 
land County for 1853. Reports of County Auditors. 

19. " List of Churches, Congregations and Pastors worshiping in 
Green sburg. 

20. Autographs of the Attorneys of the County. 

21. Dechiration of Independence, Constitution of the United 
States and of the State of Pennsylvania. 

1 JSIessrs. Simon Detar,'Jesse Walton and Alexander Hanna, Coun- 
ty Commissioners, and William Bell and John Arnold, the con- 
tractors, next placed the copper box, containing the deposits, in the 
corner stone. Following that proceeding, the stone was put in po- 
sition at the southeast corner of the proposed Court House. When 
it was announced that the stone had been tirinly and properly laid, 
Edgar Cowan, Esq. , delivered a fitting, scholarly and eloquent ad- 
dress. The ceremonies closed with a benediction, pronounced by 
Rev. Mr. Geisy. 

The building operations progressed in a satisfactory manner until 
August, 18.7.5. Differences then arose between the contractors and 
Commissioners as to whether the specifications were being fulfilled. 
By mutual consent, the contract with Messrs. Bell & Arnold was can- 
celled. An agreement was then made with ISlessrs. Johnston & 
jMcFarland to complete the work, for $28,688, and reasonable com- 
pensation for changes or extras. According to the provisions of the 
compact, the court room was to be in condition for holding the May 
term, 1856, and all the work finished by August, of that year. That 
result was attained, both as to the public buildings and surroundings. 
It was carefully estimated at that time that the total cost of the Court 
House, Sheriff's dwelling and the jail, with the outside work on the 
[94] 



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lots, aggregated $100,000. Many persons imagine that the 
Court House is constructed entirely of stone. Such, however, 
is not the case. The east (front) and south sides of the build- 
ing are composed of cut stone, but the west and north walls 




are brick, covered with cement and skillfully scored to rep- 
resent stone. 

COURT HOUSE BELLS. 

That now in use is the second Court House bell pur- 
chased by the county. Neither bell nor belfry adorned 
the primitive log and plank cabin erected in 1786. When 
that building was supplanted by the pretentious brick 
structure of 1798, with its lofty cupola, a bell was deemed 
necessary in connection with the other modern features 
then introduced. One was procured from Joseph Hos- 
tetter at a cost of §134.2.5. Thirteen years later the first 
bell was removed to make way for a more massive one 
cast by George Hedderly, of Philadelphia. Its cost and 
carriage from the Quaker City was §442.97. Messrs. 
James Estep, Andrew Finley and Joseph Collins consti- 
tuted the Board of County Commissioners that made tlie 
change. For nearly ninety years its iron tongue has salut- 
ed the ears of citizens of Greensburg, running the gamut 
of almost every human passion. In years past it has 
pealed joyously when the blushing daughters of the village 
were led to Hymen's alter, and tolled in slow and solemn 
measure when their white-haired fathers paid the debt of 
nature. It has sternly called the lagging youth, with 
shining morning face, to school; it has convened the sage 
citizens in town meeting for the consideration of borough 
concerns or weighty affairs of state. It has rang for ex- 
hibitions of negro minstrelsy, and has prompted the seri- 






ons and devout to repair to the sanctuary. Its clarion tones 
have broken the mi(hught stillness, in bidding a last fare- 
well to the closing year, or arousing the slumbering inhabi- 
tants to gaze in terror upon the lurid glare of the tire demon. 




It clanged exultantly over Perry's Isrilliant victory on Lake 
Erie and the fall of the City of Mexico; and sounded sadly 
for many hours, in keeping with the throljs of the sorrowing 
hearts of the people, «heu Abraham Lincoln, the great Presi- 
dent, during the civil wa,r, was struck- down Ijy the 
the foul hand of an assassin. 



Ki:siiii:Nrr. of mr. friedo[.[N miller. 
Kast Fourth Street. 



Exciting WaryTime Incident. 

Like every other community throughout the coun- 
try, Greensburg was thrown into a state of great ex- 
citement on Saturdaj^ morning, April 15, 186.5, by 
the startling intelligence that President Lincoln had 
been assassinated the night before. The fact that the 
assassin had not been apprehended added to the in- 
tense anxiety of the public mind. Some conception 
can, therefore, be formed of the effect on this com- 
munity of the receipt, on Monday, April 17, by the 
I'rovost ^Marshal, at Greensliurg, of a telegram an- 
nouncing that a man suspected to be John Wilkes 
Booth, the assassin of tKe President, was a passenger 
on the Fast Line, westward, which would arrive at 
(ireensburg shortly before one o'clock, noon. This 
scnsatit)nal information spread throughout the town 
like an alarm of fire. Even the coolest and most 
sedate citizens became feverish with excitement and 
rushed to the railroad station. In the meantime, 




^1 










a company of soldiers belonging to the Invalid Corps, 
quartered at this place in connection with the Provost 
Marshal's office, was hastily brought forth by the com- 
mander, Captain Leddy, and marched under arms to the de- 
pot. An immense crowd had assembled. When the train 




RESIDENCE OF JOHN F. VVENTLING, 
North Main Street, 



ESQ. 



arrived the soldiers were lined on both sides of the track. A 
number of officers entered the cars, while the multitude with- 
out surged and swayed in eager expectancy. After some 
minutes of suspense, a small, dark-complexioned man, with 
a black mustache, and wearing on his head an oil cloth cap, 
was dragged forth by the officers. The soldiers 
surrounded the terrified individual and he was 
taken, under military guard, to the Provost Mar- 
shal's office, at the corner of East Otterman Street 
and St. Clair A\'enue, followed by the thoroughly 
aroused crowd. Many of the agitated spectators, 
who had read descriptions of the personal appear- 
ance of the assassin, were satisfied that the man in 
custody was John Wilkes Booth. At the Provost 
Marshal's office all persons not connected there- 
with were excluded, and the crowd kept at a re- 
spectful distance from the building by a military 
guard. A searching examination of the prisoner 
took place, but some time elapsed before the 
feverish curiosity of the citizens, as to the result, 
was appeased. The investigation developed the 
fact that the suspected man was one Emerson 
Davis, a citizen of the State of Illinois, and that 
he was or had been a traveling agent of the 
Christian Commission. He was kept under arrest 
for nearly a week, however, until the authorities 
satisfied themselves beyond all doubt that he was 
guiltless of any connection with the awful tragedy. 



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Had he been the murderer of the Chief Executive, doubtless, 
he would have been sorely tried by remorse on Wednesday, 
April 19, the date of the funeral obsequies of the deceased 
President. On that day, in Greensburg, all business w^s 



suspended and there was a solemn hush resting on the town, 
which was emphasized by the mournful tolling of the Court 
House and church bells from 6 o'clock a. m. until 12:30 P. M. 




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s'lWULES AND PI I'.Ll' llAl.l, mi- m li. .k i| l\ ■ 
South Maple Avenue. 




[98] 



Fourth County Jail at Greensburg. 

At no time, after its completion and occupancy, 
was the stone jail, erected in 1853-1, satisfactory 
in the important features of security and ventila- 
tion. The atmosphere became fetid and breaches 
of prison were frequent. In 1865 it was decided 
that some action was necessary as to the jail. 
There was a division of sentiment among the 
county officials on the question of whether a new 
prison should lie built or the existing one rear- 
ranged and repaired. A grand jury, charged with 
the task of making a thorough investigation of the 
matter, recommended the latter course. Changes 
were accordingly made at a cost of aliout !BS.5()0. 
Four iron or steel cells, the walls, floor and ceiling 
all being of that material, were constructed on the 
first floor, as aft'ording greater security against 
jail breaking, and a sewerage system, extending 
l,'2(i(> feet, for bettering the noisome atmosphere, 
were among the principal improvements intro- 
duced. 






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FOURTH COUNTY PRISON AT OREENSBURLl. 
Krected 1883. 



Although the remodeling partially corrected the defects, 
it did not entirely remove them. In 1882 the old prison was 
condemned by the State Board of Public Charities and the 
grand jury advised the building of a new one. Such a course 
was determined upon by the County Commissioners. As the 
ground on which the old jail stood was insuiScient for the 
proposed new one, the adjoining lot, No. 5 (see plan page 13), 
was purchased by the county from Mr. George Dorn, the 
consideration beingSl4,000, which, of course, also represented 
the value of the buildings erected thereon and subsequently 
torn down. In the two lots was secured a frontage of 125 
feet on West Pittsburg Street, and a depth, aligning on the 
alley and Pennsylvania Avenue, of 110 feet. Plans and 
specifications for the new Sheriff's dwelling and prison were 
prepared by Architect E. M. Butz, who had but shortly be- 
fore acted in the same professional capacity in connection 
with the new Western Penitentiary, at Riverside. Mr. Butz's 
plans met the approval of and were adopted by the Coun- 
ty Commissioners and the court. The contract for the erec- 
tion of the buildings was awarded to Messrs. Huckenstein & 
Co., of Allegheny City, on April 6, 1883, the bid of that firm 
being S134-, 700. Both the dwelling and prison were com- 
pleted and ready for occupancy in December, 1884. The 
total cost of the several structures, with the improvements 
on the lot and the interior furnishings, was about §15.5,000. 

The Westmoreland county jail is pronounced by competent 
judges one of the best in Pennsylvania. It is absolutely se- 
cure and modern and complete in all its appointments. The 



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proportions of the Sheriff's residence are 40x49 feet; the 
main structure, or jail building, 46x125; the jail tower 26x25, 
and 104 feet in height; and the boiler house, 20x25 feet. 
Iron, stone and brick were the only materials used in the con- 
struction of the prison, excepting the window frames and 
sash, which are of wood. It is pronounced lire-proof 
throughout and cannot be destroyed either purposely or by 




: Yard. 


Boiler House. 


Yard. : 




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dor. ■ 




CeUs. 






Cells. : 




Corridor. 






Corridor. : 




Cells. 






CeUs. : 




Air and 


Light Corridor. " | 


: Yard 


SheriCE's Dwelling 




Jail 
Tower. 




Yard. : 



















WEST PITTSBURG STREET. 



RESIDE.NCE OF MR. JAMES B. ROBINSON. 
South Pennsylvania Avenue. 



PLAN OF THE INTERIOR OF THE JAIL. 

accident. There are three prison departments in the main 
jail building — two for males and one for females. In the 
male departments are seveuty-two steel cells, and in the 
female section live, making in the three tiers a total of 
seventy-seven cells, capable of quartering two hundred 
prisoners. Every one of the cells is supplied with a 
wash-l)asin and vvater-closet. All the cells are eight feet 
square and a like distance in height. The walls of the 
cells are composed of one-fourth inch steel plate, and the 
floors and ceilings of five-inch flag stone. The female 
ward is entirely separate from the male, being located over 
the guard room, and is only accessible through the 






Sheriffs office in the tower. All the cells are four feet from 
the outer walls of the building, lea\'ing an air and light corri- 
dor between the walls and the rear of the cells. As the rear 
sections of the cells are grated, by this arrangement, the jail 
guard can have a full view of the interior of the cells. Pris- 




St 



RESIIjEXCK of i>lt. LEMUEL OFFUTT. 

West Otterman Street. 



oners can be admitted to the exercise corridors, which are 
] 6x40 feet, without having access to the main jail hall. From 
the se^'eral platforms, in the latter, the guard can constantly 
keep the corridors on either side under scrutiny. Prisoners 
cannot gain entrance to the air and light corridors. The pur- 
pose of dividing the jail into two compartments is that 
the prisoners awaiting trial or sentence, and those serv- 
ing sentence, may be separated. 

Between or connecting the Sheriff's dwelling and pri- 
son is the lofty tower. The main entrance to the latter 
is reached by a covered walk along the east side of the 
Sheriffs house. On the first floor of the tower, of 
course, is the doorway to the central hall of the prison; 
on the second floor are the Sherifi's office and the guard 
room, while on the third floor are the hospital depart- 
ment and prisoners' bath rooms. 

The heating of the jail is on the fan system. There 
are two blowing and one exhaust fans. Fresh air is 
taken in at an air-shaft on the west end of the building, 
at a distance of eighty feet above the ground, drawn 
down the shaft, forced through two heating chambers, 
containing radiators, thence disti-ibuted through warm 
air ducts, and thence through registers to the cells. 
The vitiated air is exhausted through flues from each 
cell, connected with the main vitiated air ducts in the 
basement; thence it is forced up through a main in the 
east end of the building. 



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SEVERAL MORE RECENT EXECUTIONS. 

But one execution took place in the stone jail built in 1853. 
A culprit named Hugh Corrigan, however, had been sen- 
tenced to death but cheated the gallows. Corrigan was a resi- 
dent of Derry township, in 1856, and had murdered a woman 




UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURrH. 

Corner West Third Street and Pcnnsvlvania Avenue. 

Erected 1880. [ 102 ] 



who was living with him as his wife. He burned her body 
in a brush-heap in the hope of concealing his crime. Being 
detected, he was arrested, tried, convicted and the death 
penalty imposed. A few nights before the date fixed for his 
execution, he committed suicide through the agency of poison. 
Samuel Beighley, a native of Washington township, 
was hanged in the stone jail on January 20, 1875. 
Beighley had laid in wait and deliljerately murdered 
Joseph Kerr, a farmer and shoemaker, residing in 
Franklin township. His guilt was easily established, 
and he confessed the same to his spiritual advisers ije- 
fore his death. Beighley was but twenty-one years of 
age. Although reared in a good family, by respectable 
parents, both as a boy and young man Samuel evinced 
a vicious and dejjraved disposition. The unpleasant 
duty of fulfilling the stern mandate of the law was per- 
formed by Sheriff John Guffey. Tiie remains of the 
deceased were interred in Washington township. 

A double execution occurred in the present prison on 
Thursday, July 18, 1895. It devolved upon Sheriff P. 
F. ]\IcCann to carry out the extreme penalty of the law 
at that time. William Freeman and John Good, hath 
colored, were the names of the men who expiated the 
crime of bloodguiltiness. Both were natives of Virginia 
and aged twenty-seven years. Freeman had been con- 
\'incted of the murder of his mistress, (xertrude Timber- 
lake. The tragedy took place in a room adjoining the 
barroom in the Hotel Simpson, Mt. Pleasant, on the 






8 









evening of July 26, 189i. Freeman and the woman had 
been conducting a disorderly house at Mt. Pleasant, and 
quarreled about the division of the money realized. Freeman 
drew a revolver and shot the female, inflicting a mortal 




wound. John Good was found guilty of the willful killing of 
another colored man, named Max Slaughter, at the village of 
Morewood, on November 29, 1891. With other colored coke 
workers, they had been engaged in the negro game of '"craps." 
There was considerable drinking and quarrelling. 
Slaughter's wife went after her husband and was 
taking him home. Good followed. As Slaughter 
was about to enter his house. Good fired the fatal 
shot and the former fell dead in his own doorway. 
After the execution, on July 18, 1895, the re- 
mains of Good and Freeman were interred in one 
large grave in a section of the new St. Clair ceme- 
tery set apart for the burial of colored persons. 



Borough Boundaries. 

The original boundaries of the Iiorough of Greens- 
burg are defined in the first section of the Act of 
incorporation (see page 23). Those outlines are 
more intelligibly shown in the early plan of Greens- 
burg, presented on another page. No change 
in the corporate limits occurred for sixty-one 
years after the establishment of the borough. On 
jNIarch .30, 1860, what was entitled a "Supplement 
to an Act to erect the town of Green esburgh, in the 
county of Westmoreland, into a borough, ap- 



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THK BARCLAY BANK BUILDINU. 

Main Street, 



proved February 9, 1799," was enacted. Under that statute, the boun- 
daries were enlarged, as described below : 

"Beginning at a point in the centre of the track of the Pennsylvania Railroad, im- 
mediately over the centre of the arch which passes the Greensburg and New Alex- 
andria road; thence north (iBJ^ degrees west 1,683 feet to the northeast corner of the 
Greensburg academy grounds; thence south 87 degrees west 1,284 feet to a point in 
the centre of the Greensburg and Harrison City road; thence along the centre of said 
Greensburg and Harrison City road, to the centre of the track of said Pennsylvania 
Railroad; thence along the centre of the track of said railroad to the corner of the 
borough of Lndwick; thence along the east side of said borough of Ludwick south 17i 
degrees west 346 feet to a point in the centre of the Greensburg and Pittsburg turn- 
pike; thence along the centre of said pike north 83 degrees west 193 feet; thence south 
891 feet to the centre of the old Greensburg and Pittsburg turnpike; thence along said old 
turnpike south 82 degrees east 330 feet; thence along a road leading from said old turn- 
pike to the Greensburg and New Stanton road south 34 degrees east 1,531 feet; thence 
along said Greensburg and New Stanton road north 63 degrees east 700 feet; thence 
along the east side of a road leading to the Greensburg and Mount Pleasant voad 
south 32 degrees east 350 feet; thence south 53* degrees east l,03ii feet, to a point in 
the centre of the Greensburg and Mount Pleasant road: thence south 31 degrees east 
266 feet; thence north 80 degrees east 350 feet; thence north 23 degrees east 3.m0 feet, 
to a point in the centre of the Greensburg and Stoystown turnpike; thence north 9+ 
degrees east 1.338 feet to the centre of the track of the Pennsj'lvania Railroad, im- 
mediately over the centre of the arch which passes the Sewiekley creek; thence along 
the centre of the track of said Pennsylvania Railroad south 74A degrees west 593 feet 
to the place of beginning." 

The next extension of the borough lines was on the north side. In 
February, 1891, residents and property-owners of that suburban locality, 
who sutfered many inconveniences, petitioned the court for the "Annex- 
ation of a part of Heniptield township to Greensburg borough." There 
was some division of sentiment at that time as to just what course would 
be the most expedient. A few of the citizens and real estate owners, of 
the section atfeeted, did not approve of any change. Still another element 
desired the establishment of a new and separate borough. On April .5, 
1891, persons favoring the latter course applied to the court for the in- 
corporation of the "Borough of North Greensburg." After various pro- 

[104] 



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ceedings before the court, and some readjustmeut of 
the lines of the territory as first proposed, the peti- 
tion for the annexation of that section, to the bor- 
ough of Greensburg, was granted on February 20, 
1892, and all exceptions dismissed. In the approved 




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RESIDENCE OF MRS. JOHN W. TURNEY. 
West Pittsburg Street. 



petition it was stated "that the said limits so desired to be annexed 

include a part of the plan of lots laid out by the Ciilbertson heirs^ 

John Barclay, Dr. Metzgar, Jehu Taylor's estate and Joseph J. 

Johnston, Esq., and a collection of houses, collected after a regular 

plan in regard to streets and lanes.'' The description of the annexed 

territory in detail is as follows: 

"Beginning at a point at the nortiieast corner of Academy lot: thence north- 
ern bonndary of Greensburg borough south 87 degrees west 1.284 feet to a point; 
thence through the Harrison City road north 18 degrees o minutes west 315 feet 
to a point: north 20 degrees 25 minutes east 663. 5 feet to the northwest corner of 
Barclay plan of lots: north 33 degrees W minutes east 911 feet through Salem 
road to the northwest corner of Dr. jMetzgar's plan of lots; north 74 degrees 10 
minutes east 288.6 feet to the northwest corner of said plan; south 12 degrees 
east 919.8 feet to a point at noi'therly line of Best Street; north 77 degrees 25 
minutes east 502 feet along Best Street to a point: south 12 degrees 35 minutes 
east 664.2 feet to Grant Street: north 77 degrees 25 minutes east 33i> feet to an 
alley; thence south 12 degrees 35 minutes east 674 feet to a point; north 66 de- 
grees 15 minutes west 1,037.2 feet to the place of beginning." 

BUNKER HILL BOROUGH ANNEXED. 

An Act of Assembly, approved June 6, 1893, to promote the 
merging of abutting or contiguous boroughs, was regarded so favor- 
ably by many of the citizens of Greensburg and Bunker Hill bor- 
oughs, that the consolidation of the latter with the former was pro- 
posed. To afford the residents of both places an opportunity to give 
expression to their sentiments on the subject, in an orderly and legal 
manner, the annexed joint agreement was executed between the Bur- 
gesses of the two boroughs : 

Whereas, The Burgesses and Inhabitants of the Borough of Greensburg, in 
the County of Westmoreland, and the Borough of Bunker Hill, two boroughs, 
duly incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, are 
adjacent and are of such compact and contiguous territory as to form one muni- 
cipal division, and 
[105] 







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_M':? 



cmasTiA.N ciiuucu. 

West Second Street. 
Erected 1891. 



Where.is, The said boroughs are desirous of being consolidated into one borough, 
so that all the propert}'. rights, franchises and privileges now vested in both of said 
boroughs may be transferrrd and vested in the new borough formed by such consoli- 
dation, as provided by Act of Assembly, approved the 6th day of June, 1893, entitled 
"An Act to provide for the consolidation of boroughs and the government and regula- 
tion thereof," 

Now this .ioint agreement, made and concluded this 39th day of January, A D. 
1894, by and between the Burgesses and Inhabitants of the Borough of Greensburg, 
in the County of Westmoreland, of the one part and the Borough of Bunker Hill, of 
the other, witnesseth that it is hereby agreed that the aforesaid Boroughs, to-wit: The 
Burgesses and Inhabitants of the Borough of Greensburg. in the County of West- 
moreland, and the Borough of Bunker Hill shall be consoliilated into one Borough and 
shall embrace all the territory now comprised in both of the Boroughs aforesaid. 

That the Borough formed by such consolidation shall be known as "The Borough 
of Greensburg." 

That said Borough of Greensburg, so formed by said consolidation, shall be divid- 
ed into five wards, the territorial boundaries of which shall be as follows: 

Ward number one shall embrace all that portion of the present Borough of Greens- 
burg which is situated west of Main Street and north of Pittsburg Street. 

Ward number two shall embrace all that portion of the present Borough of 
Green,sburg which is situated east of Main Street and north of Pittsburg Street. 

Ward number three shall embrace all that portion of the present Borough of 
Greensburg which is situated east of Main Street and south of Pittsburg Street. 

Ward number four shall embrace all that portion of the present Borough of 
Greensburg situated west of Main Street and south of Pittsburg Street. 

Ward number five shall embrace all the territory now embraced in the present 
Borough of Bimker Hill 

That this agreement shall be submitted to the qualified electors of each of the said 
Boroughs, on Tuesday. 20th of February, 1894, which election .shall be held by the 
regularly con stituti'd election officers in and tor said Biinmuhs. ;nul in accordance with 
the provisions of the laws of this Commonwealth regulating elections by the people. 

In witness whereof, the Burgesses and Inhabitants of the Borough of Greensburg, 
in the County of Westmoreland, has caused this agreement to be signed b}' its Chief 
Burgess, and attested by the Town Clerk and has caused its coporate seal to be here- 
unto affixed, and the Borough of Bunker Hill has caused this agreement to be signed 
by its Burgess and attested by the Secretary of the Town Council and has caused its 
corporate seal to be hereunto affixed. 

J. COVODE REED. 
Chief Burgess of the Burgesses and Inhabitants of the Borough of Greensburg, in the 
County of Westmoreland. A. G M.\rsh. Town Clerk. 

G. W. MILLER, 
Burgess of Borough of Bunker Hill. 
[ 106 ] J. H. Johnston, Secretary. 



(P 









In conformity with the provisions of the foregoing agree- 
ment, a vote was taken at the general election on Tuesday, 
February 20, 1894, in both boroughs on the proposition for 
consolidation. The result of the ballot in Greeusburg was 
as follows : 




KESIDENCE OF MR. J. K.1PPE MYERS. 
North Main Street. 



, WARDS. , 

12 3 4 Total. 

For consolidation 182 80 61 129—452 

Against consolidation 61 37 48 87—233 

Annexed was the expression of the electors of Bunker Hill 
borough : 

For consolidation 150 

Against consolidation 14 

It being evident that a very large majority of 
the citizens desired that thereafter the two bor- 
oughs should be one, and the same being officially 
reported to the Chief Executive of the Common- 
wealth, the union was consummated in the form sub- 
joined : 

Letters Patent— Greensburg and Bunker Hill— Consolida- 
tion; In the name and by the authority of the Common- 
wealth of Pennsylvania, E.xecutive Department. 
To All Whom These Presents Shall Come, Greeting : 

Whereas, In and by an Act of the General Assembly of 
the Commonwealth, entitled, "An Act to provide for the con- 
solidation of Boroughs and the government and regulation 
thereof," approved the (ith day of June, A. D. 1S93, it i.s inter 
alia provided in the Hrst section thereof that two or more Bor- 
oughs, duly incorporated under the laws of this Common- 
wealth, of such compact and contiguous territory as to form 
one principal division, may be consolidated into one Borough. 
And it is further provided, in section two of said Act that the 
Town Council of each Borough may enter into a joint agree- 
ment, under the corporate seals of each Borough for thecon- 
solidation thereof: and that such agreement shall be submitt- 
ed to the qualified electors of each of the said Boroughs at an 
election to be held therein, provided the returns of which 
election shall be endorsed upon the joint agreement, and the 
agreement so adopted, or a certified copy thereof, with all its 






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endorsements, shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of the Com- 
monwealth, and, upon tbe filing thereof, the Governor shall cause 
letters patent to be issued, nnder the great seal of the State, erecting 
the said consolidated Boroughs into one corporation, by the name set 
forth in the .joint agreement; and 

Where.\s, It appears from the certified copy of the .joint agreement 
entered into by The Burgesses and Inhabitants of the Borongh of 





Greensburg, of the County of Westmoreland, and the Borongh of 
Bunker Hill, for the consolidation of said Boroughs, together with the 
returns of the election held for the ratification of said .ioint agreement 
by the election of said Boroughs, on the 20th day of February. A. D. 
18B4. as filed in the office of the Secretary of the "Commonwealth, that 
a ma.iority of the electors of each of said Boroughs, voted in favor of 
the ratification of said joint agreement; and 

Whereas, The requirements of the above recited Act of the 
General Assembly have been fully complied with by the said 
The Burgesses and Inhabitants of tbe Borough of Greensburg, 
in the County of Westmoreland and the Borough of Bunker 
Hill. 

Now, therefore, know ye that I, Robert E. Pattison. Gov- 
ernor ol^ the said Commonwealth, in compliance with the 
provisions of the said Act of tbe General Assembly, and by 
virtue of the authority in me vested, do bj' these presents, 
which I have caused to be made patent and sealed with the 
great seal of the State, hereby constitute and erect the said 
consolidated Boroughs into one corporation and do hereby 
constitute the same a body corporate and politic by the name, 
style and title of The Borough of Greensburg, and by the 
same name to be vested with all the rights, power and privi- 
leges, with full force and effect and subject to all the duties, 
requirements and restrictions specified and enjoined in and 
by the said Act of tbe General Assembly, approved the 0th 
day of June. A. D. 189:3. 

Given under my hand and the great seal of the State, at 
Harrisburg this loth day of March, in the year of our 
Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-four, and of 
the Commonwealth the one hundred and eighteenth. 

ROBERT E. PATTISON, [L. s.] 
By the Governor, 

A. L. TiLDEN, 

Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth. 



RESIDENCE OF WILLI.VM C. PEuI'LES, ESQ. 
North Main Street. 



[108 J 



Borough Officers. 

In the succeeding pages are presented tbe names of 
borough officials, provided for under the "old chart- 



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er," so far as they have been obtained, from the incor- 
poration of Greensburg, in 1799, to the year 189i, when 
the consolidation with Bunker Hill took place. Although the 
list is not complete, it is as nearly so as much patient labor 
and wide research could make it. The minute book of the 



Board of Burgesses, prior to 1858^ has been missing for a 
number of years. Moreover, the records of the Quarter 
Sessions court do not contain the names of the borough officials 
elected annually as seemingly intended in Section 3 of the 
Act incorporating the borough : 



CHIEF BTJEGESS. 



Year 

I'yoo Oeorge Armstrong.. 

1500 Joseph Cool; 

1501 Georg;e Armstrong.. 

1S03 John Young 

1S03 George Armstrong.. 

lSll|Simon Drum. Jr 

1S13 George Armstrong.. 
lS13|Abraham Horbach.. 



BURGESS. 



Simon Drum 

Robert Cooper. .. 

John Wells 

Peter Horbach.. 

John Young 

John Wells 

Samuel Guthrie. 



ASSISTANT BURGESSES. 



Jacob HugUB. Robert Cooper, Tliomas McGuire 

John Hanna., James Brarly, Robert Graham 

Henry Coultei', Heni-y Weaver, Andiew McCulley — 

Simon Drum, Daniel Bacon, Nathaniel Williams 

John Kuhns, Daniel Hacon, Andrew McCulley 

Simon Singer, Samuel Guthrie. Robert Williams 

John B. Alexander. Abrahan^ Horbach, JohnWilUams 



TO^VN CLEEK. 



John Morrison 

John Morrison 

John Morrison 

Nath;iniel George. 
John M. Snowden. 
John M. Snowden. 



HIGH CONSTABLE. 



Alexander Stewart.. 
Alexander Stewart.. 
Alexander Stewart. - 

Simon Singer 

Simon Singer 

Si m on Singer 



Waller Forward Simon Sinj^er. 

I Simon Singer . 






m, 




Year CHIEF BTTHGESS. 



r 

m 
Wk 

i 



1814.Iotm Wells 

lSl.-i.7uhn Kiihris 

lHl(>'.l..|iu AX'.'Jls 

1817 .lohn Wrils 

ISIS .lolm Kulins 

1S19 Kichiird Coulter 

1831 Richnrd CoultiT 

1S23 Itichard Coulter 

1S3;S Uichard Coulter 

183.-. Uichard Coulter 

1«3(: Uichard Coulter 

1837 .rohuY. Barclay 

1«3« Kli Coulter 

183y ^-.li Coulter 

1830 John Y. Barclay 

183(> John Y. Barclav 

1837 Rnndat McLaughlin. 
183i> John Y. Barclay 

1840 Joh-i Y. Harclav 

1S41 Uichard Coulter 

18+3 Joseph Russell 

1843 Jacob Wcltv 

1S44 Jnlm Armstrong 

1841 II. Y. UraJv 

IS.-.lj Daniel Welty 

18,-,-.'!|l Miirl Wrliv 

18-»3 i:i.li;Mil Coulter 

1S-.4 ili.h.inl Coulter 

IST).". Uichaid Coulter 

18-><i Henry Kettering 

18.-.7 Jas. C. Clarke 

isr.s .las. C. Clarke 

is:^it Jno. \y. Turney 

1800 Jno. VV. Turney 

18!il Z. F. Bierer 

18(J3 A, p. Bierer 

ISiiU Henry Kettering 

18U4 Ht>nry Kettering. — 

18i;.-. Henrv Weltv 

18iJ(i .lames C.Clarke 

18G7 Jacob Turney 

18(J8 Honry Kettering 

ISfiO Jamfs Uorlin 

1870 Ir;, Uvjin 

1871 Juhn ,M. .Smith 

1873 L Wi.isheimer 

1873 John L. Holmes , 

1874 John M. Smith 

187.". Jnincs liorlin 

187(; Jolm :\l. Smith 

1877.1'hilii) Kiihns 

187Slllugh Ward 

187!) Jolin M.Smith 

1880| Jainea C. Clarke 




BURGESS. 



ASSISTANT BURGESSES. 



TOWN CLERK. 



John Kuhns John Fleeter, Wm. S. Gr-aham. Robert Gniham. 

John Wells i Robert Graham. Jacob Kerns. Simon Singer 

John B. Alexander ISamucl Singer. Jacob Kern. John Kvihn'? 

John B. Alexander IRobeit Williams. Jolin Flceger, Samuel Singer.. 

Eli Coulter John Fleeger. Robert Williams 

James Brady ! Jacob Turney, Robert Williams. John Kuhns. . - 

David Maclean I Jacob Turney. Peter Fleeger, Win. Johnston. 

Daniel Grant " ■ '"" 

Daniel Grant 

A. W. Foster 

Alex. W. Foster 

Rli Coulter 

John V. Barclay 

Jfihn Y. Barclay 

Uichard Coulter 

John Kuhns 

Jacob M. Wise 

Dr. S. P. Brown 

I)r S. P. Brown 

Jacob Weltv 

Jehu Taylor 

Richard Coulter. 

.\. Uumbaugh 

H. Brenneman 

3. B. Ramsey 

D K. Marchand 

James C. Clarke 

James C Clarke 

James C. Clarke 

James C. Clarke 

.John Loor 

John W. Turney 

Alex. McKinney 



C. H. Sf.ark 

Henry Kettering. . . 
Tsrael Uncapher — 
.lumcs C. Clarke — 

C. H. Stark.. 

J. A. Marchand 

Simon Detar 

-Samuel Alwine 

C. R. Painter 

Samuel A'wine 

I, H. Welt.y 

John M. Smith 

Samuel Alwine, Sr. 

It. W, Sinsier 

Lewis T. Bott. 

H. S. Coshey. 



Arthur Carr. Abr;i 
John Kuhns, Arthi 
Jacob Weltv. Willi 
James GoodJin, Sai 
Randal AlcL uiKhlii 



Peter Fleeger, Frcderiek Maeklin, William Herwick. . 

Peter Fleeger. David Kuhns, George Shiras 

Jabob Turney, Jehu Taylor, John Fleeger 

.lehu Tavlor. James Fleming, F. A. Wise. . 

F. A. Wise. Arthur r;iri-. Randal McLauL^ilin 

Arthur Carr, Randiil Md, ui^HiIin. F. A. Wise 

llni'lMcii. .Inlui Kuhns 

ar. Aiiiahain llorbaeh 

McK'iiincy. .h.hu T.iylor 

I Kiihii-^, \^'illiam Ramsey 

jini Iviilnis, 'I'homas Armstrong 
Rand!>l McLaughlin.. lohn Kuhns. Thomas Armstrong 

John Kuhns, Samuel Kuhns. Joseph Russell 

Bcn.1. Highberger. Jacob S. Steck, Thomas L. Drum 

Dr. S. P Brown, Simon Cort, John Kuhns 

H. Gilchrist, J. L. Turney 

Jacob .Vl. ^Vise, Jnmcs Goodlin 

D. K. Marchand, Hugh Artcrs, Henry Kettering — 

Israel Uncauher. D VV. Shryock, H. D. Foster 

Kdgar Cowan. S. S Turney. Jno. Armstrong, Jr 

Edgar Cowan. John Armst rong, Jr., Samuel S. Turney 
Edg.ar Cowan, John Armstrong, Jr.. .S. S. Turney — 

Samuel Alwine. John Loor. W. H. Markle 

Edward J. Keennn. C. R. Painter. Daniel Kistler, Jr 

.lohn Loor. Daniel Kistler, John Morrison 

Daniel Kistler, Jr , Joseph Greer 

Z. P. Bierer 



F. Y. Clopper, Lawrence Winsheimer, Eli Fisher. . 
James F. Woods. John D. Coffin, Samuel Alwine. . 
William Dixon, William M. Given, A- A. Stewart. 

E. J. Keenan, A. A. Stewart. Thos. Donohoe. 

Z. P. Bierer. G. A. Allison, R. W. Singer 

J. J. Hazleit. Cornelius Miller. Adam Baer 

W. F. Rock, D. J. Clin. -.John M.Smith 

R. M. Reed. John H. Highberger. Peicr Welsh 

Frank Sarver. D. J. Cline. James H. Wclty 

Joseph Bowman, Eli Beck, George L. Turney 

R. M. Reed. John Kuhns, C. H. Stark 

Solomon Traugcr. W. H. Huckc. Simon H. Baker.. , 

Lewis Kline, F, V. B, Laird. Liicien Clawson 

J. \V. Turney. Willinrn Dixon. F. V. B. L.iird 

James K. Stuari, Peter Si pes. Joseph Boutnan 

John Kuhns, J. K. J)ick, Lueien Clawson . 



Samuel Alwine |.\.B. Brown, F. Y. Clopper, J. C. MeCausland 

[110] 



Richard Coulter. . . . 
Richard Coulter.... 

Uichard ConJter 

Ricliard Coulter — 

William Friedt 

JiKuh M. \Vi^,e , 

Jacnh M. Wise 

Dr. .luhn Morrison. 
Dr. Jno. Morrison.. 
Dr. J no. Morrison.. 
Dr. Jno. Morrison.. 
I*r. Jno. Monison. . 
Dr. John Morrison. 
Dr. Jno. Morrison. . 
Dr. John Mori'ison.. 
Dr. Jno. Morrison. . 
Dr. Jno. Morrison. . 
Dr. John Monison. . 
Dr. John Morrison.. 

H. C. Marchand 

H. C. Miirchand 

H. C. Marchand — 

Andrew Ross 

Reuben Shi-um 

Reuben Shrum 

Reuben .Shruni 

Reuben Shrum 

Reuben Shrum 

Caleb A. Steck 

Caleb A. Steck 

John L. Fisbel 

A. G. Marsh 

A. G. Marsh 

J.M.Liird 

W. K. Wise 

V\'. C. Holmes 

J.M. Laiid 

J. A, Marchand 

F. V. B. Laird 

John F. Fishel 

h\ S. Rock 

Thomas McCabe. ... 
Thi)m;is McCabe.... 

A. G. IMaish 

(i. Marsh 

A. G Marsh , 

A. G. Marsh 

A. G, Marsh , 

W. C. Loor 

W. c. Loor 

R, B. Patterson , 

R. B. Patterson 

F. U. Rohrer 

J. A. Sampsel 



Samuel West 

Samuel West 

John B. Hornish. . . 

Le\^ is Morford 

Lewis Morford 

Peter Fleeger 

John Porter 

John C. Wiliiams.. 

Peter Bossart 

Peter Bossai t 

Henry G.Kiehl.... 
Henry G Kichl — 

Henry G. Kichl 

Henry G. Kichl — 
Heni-y G. Kiehl — 



HIGH CONSTABLE. 

Simon Singer 

Christian Drum 

Daniel Grant 

Daniel Grant 



John Williams.. 



John Laughrey. . 
John Laughrcy.. 
John Laughrcy.. 
John Bricker. ... 
Michael Hawk.. . 



Jeremiah King.. . 

Samuel Suinii' 

Jernniah King.. . 
Jeremiah King. . . 

Geo. W. Lung 

Peter Everett 

Dan"l Hawk 

Tlius. Poulson. ... 

Peter Everett 

Peter Everett 

Carl Mvers.. 

Carl :\lycrs 

Thnnia> Pmilson. 
C'yrus .Mc^u vide. 
Cyrus .IMcQiiaide. 
Charles Harkins.. 
Alex. Stitt 



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ISSIJ. E. Gatchell John M. Smith.., 

18831Z. P. Bierer Jacob Turney 

1SS3,Z. P. Bierer C. H.Stark 

J884'S. R. Patterson Ijohn M. Smith... 

1885 H. S. Ackerman jRlchard Coulter. 

18SG L. W. Doty F. Y. Cloppei- 

188-!' J. A. Marchand A. M Sloan 

1888 J. A. Marchand 'D. Musick 

1889, F. Y. Clopper lA. M. Sloan 

189o! John O. Kelfer 'O. R. Snyder 



H. Byers Kuhns. William Walthour. Charles Diehl I James E Keenan,. 

P. S. Kuhns, Henry Lau^hrey, Joseph Tinman Jas. K Clarke 

J. T. Kirkwood, Henry Laughrey, Alex. Gress 'G E. Kuhns 

J. R.Bell. J. W. B. Kemorcr. Jno. Walthour C. R. Miller 

James C. Clarke. Edward Keenan. F. C. Gay ID. S. Ferguson 

Adam Turney. F. C. Gay. Alexander Eicher G. E. Kuhns 

Charles F. Ehalt. James E. Keenan. R. A. F. Lyon Iw. W. Keenan 

John Bonier, John Stoker. John B. Kuhns " Cyrus Gross 

H. S. Coshey. Joseph Bowman. Geo. W. Kline Cyrus Gross 

William Orr. Samuel Alwine. Sr . John M. Keener I A. G, Marsh 



HIGH CONSTABLE. 

Emanuel Noel 

Alexander Stitt 

Michael Hawk 

Carl Myers 

Carl Myers 

Emannel Noel 

Carl Myers 

('arl Myers 

Carl Myers 

Carl Myers 




I'ear. Chief Burgess. 
.John B. Keenan . 

F.C. Gay 

.T. Covode Reed. . . 
William Snito... 



1891 
1893 
189.-! 
1894 



Burgess. 
J. A. Marchand . 
Frank Goodlin.. . 

E. H. Bair 

J. W. Pollins 



Assistant Burgesses. 
Alex. Gress. Daniel Bierer, 
John Bonier. W. S. Bvers. .. 
Ij. Offutt. Henry Cosliey,. . . 
James Cochrane 



I'ear. Assistant Burgesses. 

1891|,Tohn M. Keener 

1892 Samuel Bierer 

1S93 Alex. Gress 

lS94:Edward Donohoe. L. Offutt. 



Town. Clerk. 

A. G. Marsh 

A. G. Marsh 

A. G. Marsh — 
A. G. Marsh 



High Constable, 

John Wilhart 

G. W. Hazlett.... 
G. W Hazlett.... 
John Wilhart 



William Friedt was the iirst Tax Collector of the 
borough, acting in that capacity during the year 
18G1. The total amount of the tax duplicate, for 
borough purposes, in that year, was §122. ST-^-. 
Simou Singer performed the duties of Collector, as 
as well as those of High Constable, in 1802. In that 
year the aggregate tax assessed was S250.71. This 
marked increase, over the preceding year, was evi- 
dently regarded as excessive, as the sum at no time 
during the ensuing eighteen years, reached §200. 
The greatest amount of the borough duplicate, from 
1801 to 18-1:5, was in the year 1830, when it attained 
the proportions of $297.96. 



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RESIDENCE OF MR. WEORGE W. GOOD. 
Alexander Street. 



[Ill] 



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GREENSBURG SCHOOLS, 






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A Record of More Than One Hundred Years of 
Educational Effort, 



BROWN BUSINKSS BUILDING. 
Main Street. 



I WllOTWITHSTANDING the perils and hardships which confronted 
l^^l the early settlers of Greensburg and vicinity, they were not in- 
f^^J seusilile to the importance of providing some means of education 
for their children. The school house was l)uilt only a few years 
after the block house. Although many of the pioneers themselves had 
not enjoyed the advantages of schools (of forty applications for pensions, 
presented by Revolutionary war veterans to the Westmoreland courts, be- 
tween the years IS'20 and 1830, which have come under the writer's 
notice, nineteen signed their names in English, five in German and .sixteen 
made a mark) tliey were evidently unwilling that their offspring should be 
similarly deprived. 

A log school house, of a type similar to that of the cabins of the first 
settlers, in and adjacent to Greensl)urg, was erected at an early period on 
the spot where the small lirick building now stands, near the spring, in 
the old St. Clair cemetery. It was built by a fund subscribed by residents 
of the neighborhood. While the exact time of the erection of the log 
school house is not known, there is good reason to believe that it was be- 
tween 1784 and 1787. In a deed (reproduced on another page of this vol- 
ume) convej^ing that ground to the Burgesses and inhabitants of the bor- 
ough of Greensburg, executed April 18, 1803, William Jack characterizes 
the log cabin as the "old school house." 
[ 113 ] 



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RESIDENCE OF ME. JOHN S. SELL. 
Corner South Main Street and Maple Avenue. 



One Thomas HoUiday was a schoolmaster in this locality prior to 1788. 
In that year, as shown by an old account, he was paid -fii and fifteen shil- 
lings for tuition by the administrators in the settlement of a decedent's 
estate. Michael Huffnagle and Robert MeConnell (the former then Pro- 
thonotary and Clerk of the Courts, and owner of the lot now occupied by 
the Barclay office building) in a bill of goods bought of Wendel Keller, 
merchant, of McCallistertown, on September 1, 1789, purchased "twelve 
spelling books, twelve primers and twelve Dutch spelling books." A 
single man, named McQuoin, was a schoolmaster in and about Greensburg 
in 1789 and 1790. John McClelland, wdio settled in Greensburg in 1791, 
and resided here until his death in 1846, aged 92 years, was a schoolmaster 
and weaver. William Roselierry, who lived in this neighborhood in 1795 
and 1798 was likewise a schoolmaster and engaged in that occupation. 

In addition to the English school, conducted in the log cabin, there 
were also several German, or, as they were more commonly called, Dutch 
schools, in the vicinity of Greensburg, in 1788, and for many years there- 
after. One of the Dutch schools was situated about one mile southeast of 
the town. In 1839 a tract of land, including the ground on which the 
Dutch school house was located, was exposed to sale by the Sheriff. Some 
of the citizens of that neighborhood formal Ij^ protested against the school 
house propertj' l)eiug embracetl in the proposed sale, setting up as a claim 
that it had been in possession of the patrons of the school for more than 
thirty years. The writer has seen an article of agreement, bearing date of 
April 8, 1799, indenturing a youth of this vicinity as an apprentice to the 
trade of a blacksmith, which bound his master to send the young man 
"four months to the Dutch school," during the term of his apprentice- 
ship. 















« - 




MASONIC TEMPLE. 

Erected 1871. Remodeled 1898. 

Main Street. 



Immediately following the ineorporrttion of Greensburg as a borough, the 
Bni-gesses were referred to as trustees of 'the log cabin school. Whether they 
were recognized as such merely by common consent, or were vested with that 
authority by some form of law, is a matter that cannot now be readily deter- 
mined. It is known, however, that the Burgesses acted iu that capacity after the 
transfer of the lot on which the school 
house was located, April 18, 1803, by 
virtue of it then being borough prop- 
erty. The humble structure was sub- 
sequently always designed as the "Bor- 
ough school house." 

James McLean announced in The 
Farmers' Eegister, on May 10, 1800, 
that "A Gramraar or Latin and Greek 
school has been opened at or atljoining 
the borough of Greensljurg, (on Mon- 
day, the '2Sth of April last), under the 
care and tuition of the subscriber, who 
will, if applied to, board his pupils." 

On April 15, 1801, this information was laid before the citizens of Greensburg, 
through the medium of The Register: 

"A c[uarterly examination of the scholars of the grammar school, under the 

tuition of Mr. McLean, will be held on Tuesday, the Itith instant, at the school 

house in this borough; and on the day following, they will deliver orations on 

various subjects in the Court Hou.se. The exhibition will commence precisely 

[114] 




GREENSBURG S FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE. 
Erected About 1785. 



is 





12 o'clock. The presence of the trustees, and the friends 
': literature is requested." 




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By the same journal the public was furnished with the fol- 
lowing intelligence, on February 13, 1802: 

"The trustees and fi'iendsof classical learning 
are requested to attend a quarterly examination 
of the scholars of the Greensburg grammar 
school, at the school house, on Thursday, the 
16th instant; and, on the day following orations, 
on varit)us subjects, will be delivered iu the 
Court House by the young gentlemen. The ex- 
hibition to begin at 12 o'clock." 



Deed foe "The Commons," 

A copy of the deed, already referred to, trans- 
ferring "The Commons," as the lot embracing 
the Borough school house was popularly known 
for a half century, is presented below at length: 

Know all men by these presents that I. William 
Jack, of Hemprield township, Westmoreland county, 
Pa., Esquire, being desirous to promote the welff re of 
the borough of Greensburg, have given and do hereby 
give, grant and confirm to the Burgesses and Inhabitants 
of the said Borough of Greensburg, in the County of 
Westmoreland, all that lot or piece of ground within 
the said borough, beginning at a post on Front street, 
thence north fifteen degrees west sixty feet; thence 
north seventy-five degrees east two hundred and 
fifteen feet: thence south fifteen degrees east sixty feet; 
thence south seventy-five degrees west two hundred 
and fifteen feet to the beginning, containing forty-nine 
perches and two-tenths parts of a perch of land, to- 



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gether with the use and benefit of the spring ad.iacent to'said lot and 
free right and passage thereto, being the same lot which was hereto- 
fore appropriated for the use of a school and upon which a log tene- 
ment house was erected by and at the expense of the Inhabitants of the 
said borough and of its vicinity. 




Also, all that certain other lot or piece of land, within the bounds of 
the said borough as laid out in the Act of Assembly erecting the same, 
beginning at a post, thence north eighty-eight degrees west one hun- 
dred and ninety-eight feet, north thirteen degrees west one hundred 
and sixty-five feet and one-half foot to a post in the line between the 
said William Jack's land and William Best's, thence south 
eighty-eight degrees west by a lot. given by the said Best to 
the said borough, two hundred and thirty-five feet, thence 
south two degrees west one hundred and sixty-five feet and 
a half to the place of beginning, containing one hundred 
and thirty-one perches. To Have and To Hold the said 
first described lot to the said Burgesses and Inhabitants to 
and for the use of them and their successors forever for 
the purpose of ei'ecting. when convenient, thereon a house 
and other proper buildings for the instruction and educa- 
tion of the youth and the accommodation of the teacher 
who may be employed, reserving nevertheless the rights 
of the Inhabitants and others, subscribers to the old school 
house, until the same be waste and unfit for that use, and 
To Have and To Hold the said described lot to the said 
Burgesses and Inhabitants to and for the use of them and 
their successors forever to erect thereon as soon as con- 
venient a house for the public worship of Almighty God, 
the administration of the sacraments of the Christian Re- 
ligion and preaching from the sacred Scriptures of Truth, 
not less than sixty feet square, to be set apart as a site, on 
the southwesterly part of the said lot, for the said house 
of worship and ground adjoining, and the residue of the 
said lot for a place of burial of the dead 

In witness whereof the said William Jack, Esq., have 
hereto set my hand and seal the I8th day of April, 1803. 
WM. JACK, [SEAL]. 
Sealed and delivered in the presence of 

John Matthews, 
Robert Shields. 
Before the .subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace 
for Westmoreland County, came William Jack. Esq., the 
grantor within named, and acknowledged the foregoing 
grant as his act and deed to be recorded as siich. Witness 
mv hand and seal dated as above. 

ROBT. DICKEY, [sealJ. 



RESIDENCE OF MR. JAMES A. BENNETT. 
Corner East Pittsburg Street and Talbott Avenue. 



[116] 



Recorded March 1 
and 108. 



180i. Deed Book Vol 





Old Greensbutg Academy, 

Realizing the need of an institution that would furnish a higher and 
more systematic education than that supplied by the scattered and 
irregular subscription schools, a movement was inaugurated by leading 




citizens of the 
county for the 
founding of an 
academy at 
Greensburg. 
The project was 
presented and 
met with the en- 
do rsem en t of 
the General As- 
sembly. Ac- 
cordingly, an 
Act was passed 
and approved 
by Governor 
Simon Snyder, 
March 7, 1810, 
directing "that 
there shall be, 

and hereliy is established in the Borough of 
Greensburg, in the County of Westmoreland, an 
academy or public school for the education of 
youth in useful arts, sciences and literature, by the 
name and style of 'The Greensburg Academy.'" 
The trustees named in the Act of incorporation 
were Judge John Young, John Morrison, John M. 
Snowden, Rev. William Speer, Thomas McGuire, 
Dr. James Postlethwait, Dr. David Marchand and 




HON. JACOB TURKEY. 



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Thomas Hodge. It was prescribed that none of the trustees 
should continue in office for a lonsfer term than four _years 
without being re-elected by the people of the county annually, 
at the general election, on the second Tuesday of October, in 
the same manner and under the same laws, rules and regula- 
tions as members of the Legislature are chosen. To deter- 
mine the tenor of the first trustees' terms the Act set forth 




OLD GREENSBURG ACADEMY. 
Erected 1810. Destroyed by Arc, 1830. 



that they should meet on the first Tuesday of May, after the 
enactment of the law, and cast lots as to the order of their 
retirement, to create the necessary vacancies to be supplied 
at the general elections during the ensuing four years. An 
appropriation of §2,000 ^\'as made from the State treasury, of 
which sura §1,000 was to be applied to the erection of a suit- 
able building, if the trustees deemed that course to be the 
"most advantageous for promoting the object of the said 
institution, and the remaining 81,000 shall be placed in 
some safe productive fund or funds, and the income there- 
of shall Ije forever applied in aid of other revenues to com- 
pensate a teacher or teachers in said academy, and there 
shall be admitted into said academy, in consequence of the 
aforesaid grant, any number of poor children that may at 
any time lie offered in order to be taught gratis; provided, 
tlie number so admitted and taught shall at no time be 
greater than four, and that none of the said children so 
admitted shall continue in said academy to be taught 
gratis, should others ajjply, longer than two years." 

jMany prominent residents of the county, but mainly in 
(ireensljurg, subscribeil to the fund for the purchase of 
ground, erection of a building and maintenance of the in- 
stitution. Of the state appropriation §1,000, together 
with an amount of the moneys arising from individual 
contributions, sufficient to make an aggregate of §1,989.46, 
was invested in stock of the Farmers' and Merchants' bank, 
of Philadelphia. The account of Thomas Hodge, treas- 



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urer, showed the receipts from the State, 
private donations and earnings of the bank 
stock, from October, 1810, to May, 1814, 
to be as subjoined : 




Cash received of William Finley, State 
Treasurer, being the.'ippropriation made 
by the Legislatue to the Academy 52.000.00 

SUBSCRIPTIONS. 

William Fricdt 2000 

George Armstrong 50.00 

John Young, in part 120.00 

John M. Snowden 10.00 

William S. Graham 20.00 

Robert Brown 20.00 

Mr. Boggs 5.00 

Mat thew Jack 5.00 

Thom.as Hodae 50.00 

Joseph Baldridge 10.00 

Joseph Weigley, Esq 50.00 

Henry Isett 20.00 

Arthnr Carr 20.00 

Or. llavid Marchand 20.00 

William Jack. Esq 20 00 

Dr. Jas. Foil Id hwait. in part 20 00 

John B. Alexander 20 00 

John Kuhns. Esq 30.00 

Walter Forward. Esq 20 00 

Thomas McGuire 20.00 

John Wells 20.00 

Robert Williams (saddler) 10.00 

Simon Drum. Jr 20.00 

John Schaeffer 20.00 

John Taylor's estate 2.00 

John Morrison, Esq 20.00 

Judtie Young. 40.000 brick, in full of his 

subscription 180.00 

Saumel Bushfleld 10.00 



Joseph Weigley, Esq., for li-shares of bank 

stock 961.10 

Henry Wise 10.00 

Michael P. Cassilly 20.00 

Pcler Tittle 2.00 

Andrew Allison 2.00 

James Fleming 20.00 

John Reed, Esq 5.00 

John Sloan, Ksq 5.00 

David Maclean 5.00 

James Shields 5.00 

Marniadnke Wilson 2.00 

Six months' dividends on 29 shares of bank 

stock, at 10 per cent, per annum 145.00 

Nicholas Day, Esq 20.00 

Dr. Postlethwait, 2d installment 20.00 

Samuel M. Reed 10.00 

Charles Campbell. Esq 20.00 

Samuel Guthrie. Esq 5.tJ0 

James Brady. Esq 8 00 

John Kirkpa trick :^0.00 

John McCune 10.00 

Jame-" Montgomery, Esq 5.00 

Frederick Kohrer. Esq 5.00 

Simon Singer 10.00 

Samuel Sinner 5.C0 

Frederick Macklin 2.00 

Philip Kuhns 5.00 

Robert Williams 10.00 

Samuel Denniston 10.00 

Alexander Johnston 30.00 

John Young. Esq 150.00 

Total ?4,384.10 



RESIDENCE OF MRS. BARBARA WELTY. 
North Main Street. 



In addition to the above amounts John Christie, Jr. , was credited with a 
contribution of §1, and James Sloan with a donation of §2. This money, 
however, was refunded, as those gentlemen had intended extending that aid 
to a theological school, which was in progress in Greensburg, at that time, 
but the persons who were charged with delivering the same had mistakenly 
handed it to the treasurer of the Greensburg Academy fund. 

After the receipt of a sum sufficient to warrant proceeding with the enter- 
prise, the trustees purchased a piece of ground, embracing one acre and 119.5 
perches, in Hempfield township, near the borough of Greensburg, from 
William Best, the consideration being Sll,5. The deed bears date of Decem- 
[119 1 



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ber 13, 1811, althoug-h the purchase was really made over 
one year Isefore. In detining the Ijoundary of the hind in 
the iustrnnient, the point of beginning is designated as on 
the ''east side of the Puekety road." Mrs. Best was also 
paid S4 "for signing the deed." The site selected was the 




RESIDENCE OF MR. OLIVER P. LONG. 
Oakland Avenue. 



most commanding eminence in proximity to to the borough, 
being a part of what is now the beautiful public school plot 
on North Main Street and North Maple Avenue, or Academy 
Hill. A building (occupying the same location as the present 
No. 1, or red brick, public school house) of a very substan- 
tial character, for that period, was erected. It was a 
plain two-story brick structure, with a like number of 
windows on both the front (west) and rear sides, and a 
commodious entrance. Neither door nor window broke 
the solid walls on the north and south. The tirst story 
of the building was divided into four rooms for dwelling 
purposes. On the second floor were two large school 
rooms and a small apartment for a teacher's studio. 

The first session of the academy opened on June 3, 
1811. William Clarke was the preceptor in charge. 
Beside the higher English branches, he also taught 
Latin and Greek. His compensation was §60 per annum, 
with the free use of the dwelling rooms in the building. 
Although both young men and ladies were accepted as 
students, the se.xes occupied separate school rooms. 
That regulation prevailed during the entire history of 
the institution, and extended even to a dividing line on 
the campus and periods of recess. The one teacher 
taught in both rooms, which were connected by a large 
door. Ordinarily there were three terms, of twelve 
weeks each, in the academy, during the course of a 
year. They usually began in January, June and October. 



[120] 



As showing that the attendance was reasonably good, it may 
be stated that in the summer of 1817, for instance, the 
number of students was 34 young men and 40 young ladies. 
The rates of tuition, that generally prevailed, for a term of 
twelve weeks, were as follows: Classical, So; English 




branches, S3. Boarding, with light and fire, in the academy, 
was 81.50 per week. 

Below is a complete list of the teachers employed in the in- 
stitution from the period of its opening until the destruction 
of the building by fire : 

1811-1812— William Clarke. 

1813— William Clarke, James Coe.* 

1814 — William Heaton. 

1815 — Joseph McCarrell. 

1816-1819- Jonathan Findlay. 

1820— Mr. Smith. 

1821-182^^Mr. Lucus. 

1825-183.5— Thomas Will. 

1836-1838 — James Jones. 

1838 — Thomas Farnesworth. 

1839 — Thomas Farnesworth, John Lloyd. 

1840 — John Lloyd, Rev. B. Ames. 

1841-1842- William W. Woodend. 

1842— John W. Duff, Wm. W. Woodend. 

1843— William W. Woodend. 

1844 — Thomas J. Keenan, Rev. Sam'I Sherwell. 

1845 — Rev. Samuel Sherwell. 

1846— John Campbell. 

1847-1849— Rev. Samuel Sherwell. 

1860— Rev. William D. Moore. 

* Where two persons are named in one year, each taught one or more of 

the three terms, during that year. 

All the teachers were men of scholarly attainments. Mc- 
Carrell was a graduate of Jefferson college; Thomas Will 



of St. Anthony's, Scotland; James Jones, of St. Omer's, 
France; Thomas Farnesworth, of Union college. New York, 
and the others of like celebi'ated educational institutions. 



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Findlay was a brother of Gov. Wm. Findlay. Nearly all the 
above teachers subsequently gained distinction in the pulpit 
or at the bar. ilr. Ames became a noted )iishop in the 
Methodist Episcopal church. 

Many of the students, who received a goodly part of 
their education at the old Greensburg academy, attain- 
ed high stations in life and reflected honor upon their 
alma mater. Among them were Gov. William Freame 
Johnston, United States Senator Edgar Cowan, Hon. 
Albert G. Marchand, Hon. Augustus Drum, Hon. 
Thomas Williams, of Allegheny City, Hon. Henry D. 
Foster, Hon. Jacob Turney, Judge J. M. Burrell, ex- 
Judge Thomas ^Mellon, the Pittsburg financier, Hon. 
Peter G. Shannon, a Judge of the Allegheny county 
courts and subsequently Chief Justice of the Supreme 
Court of Dakota, Brigadier General Richard C. Drum, 
of tlie United States army, together with manj'- others 
in almost ever walk of life. 

Fire completely destroyed the academy building on 
the night of July 2, 18.50. Nothing was left of the 
structure but a mass of debris and the shattered founda- 
tion walls. Just how the disastrous outbreak originated 
was never definitely ascertained. A student of mis- 
chievous and reckless disposition was suspected by some 
persons, at the time, of having set the building on 
fire, but no attempt was ever made to fix the guilt upon 
him. 



RESIDENCE OF THE LATE HON. JAMES C, 
South Main Street. 



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Early Subscription Schools. 

It would be impossible to furnish a complete list of the 
subscription schools that were conducted in Greensburg and 
vicinity during the period from 1800 to 1837, when the com- 




mon school system was permanently established. Such 
schools had a precarious existence and were of irregular 
tenor. As each teacher acted for himself or herself, and was 
responsible, in most instances, only to the parents of the 
pupils, no permanent records were kept of those schools. 
They were mainly formed by migratory schoolmasters 
canvassing the families of the town to secure subscribers 
for enough pupils to warrant the opening of a school. 
On some occasions the heads of families would meet at 
a public house or other designated place, in response to 
a published call for such a gathering, and determine 
upon the expediency of procuring a room and employ- 
ing a teacher to instruct their children. Conferences 
of that character were convened in this manner, the an- 
nouncement appearing in the Greensburg and Indiana 
Eegister, February 5, 1811 : 

"Parents and others interested in the education of 
youth, are requested to meet at the house of Abraham 
Horbach, in this borough, on Monday next, at 10 
o'clock, A. M., for the purpose of consulting and fixing 
on a suitable teacher." 

At times, but with no degree of regularity, the Bur- 
gesses, who were the custodians or trustees of the Bor- 
ough school house, employed a teacher and put the 
school in operation. An advertisement, published by 
those officials in the Greensburg Gazette, April 2, 1819, 
was as follows : 



ta 









''A Teacher Wanted. — A person of respectable character 
and competent qualifications for teaching the various branches 

^^« of an E^nglish Education, is wanted to take charge of the 
Borough School in Greensburg. Applications to be made 

^5|» immediately to the Burgesses, trustees of the school." 



Although the Borough school house was frequently used 
as the place of holding the subscription schools, such was 
not always the case. More desirable and comfortable quar- 
ters, elsewhere in the town, were procured sometimes by the 
teachers or parents. 



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RESIDENXE OF D.1TID A. MILLER 
Corner Mill and Third Street. 



ESy. 



SOME OF THE EARLY TEACHERS. 

William Hara, who claimed to have been "a 
public teacher for a space of ten years," prior to 
coming to the United States, taught a school in 
Hemptield township, "near Hanna's Town," in 
1799, and for several years thereafter. Youth 
were "instructed in the following branches of 
literature, viz : Reading, writing, arithmetick, 
book-keeping, geography, geometry, logimetry 
and altimetry, with their application to mensura- 
tion, surveying, navigation, gauging and dialing." 
Subsequently Mr. Hara came to Greensburg. He 
was the teacher of a school in the borough for 
about live years prior to 1808. 

Robert Williams, a young man, whose parents 
resided in Greensburg, was a schoolmaster in the 
borough for six or eight years, beginning in 1807. 

Ephraim Carpenter opened a school "for the 
education of j^outh," in the brick building of 
James Shields, in the autumn of 1814. Mr. Car- 
penter also conducted an evening school, during 





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the winter of that year, which commenced at 6 o'clock and 
closed at 9 o'clock. 

INIrs. Gill, whose husband was a tailor, "lately arrived 
from London," taught a private school for the instruction of 
young ladies, during the winter of 1815-16, and also the 
spring and summer of the latter year. The course of study 




RESIDENCE OF DR. E. B. MARSH, 
West Otterman Street. 



embraced reading, orthography, English grammar, writing 
(on Jenkins' plan), composition, arithmetic, geometry and 
painting in India ink and water colors. The tuition was $8 a 
quarter, and boarding, §30. 

George Rohrer was a resident schoolmaster in Greensburg 
from 1816 to 1820, as was also Gad H. Tower. 

Misses de Bartholt opened a school for young 
ladies, in May, 1820. In addition to the English 
branches, instruction was also given in music, 
drawing, painting, and plain and fancy needle- 
work. 

John Armstrong taught mathematics in 182.3. 
R. E. Stoxe conducted a school, with all the Eng- 
lish .studies, in 1821, Edward Geary, Samuel L. 
Carpenter and D. C. ^Morris likewise conducted 
schools, at various times, during those years and 
also in 182.5. 

James Goddard was the teacher of a night 
school, compi'ising all the English branches, in the 
autumn and winter of 1826. 

William McGowan occupied the Borough school 
house in the summer of 1827. Besides the ordinary 
English studies instruction was given in bookkeep- 
ing and the higher mathematics. 

Miss Lj^die Biddle was the teacher of a school 
for smaller children, in a log building on the site 
of the Methodist church, in 1828 and 1829. 













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FIRST BA 

' Pennsylvania A 
First Building, 



rTIST t^HURCH, 
venue and West 
erected 1873; 2d, 



Third Street. 
1895. 



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Robert N. Somerville, a man of acknowledged a))ility as an educator, "" 
but many peculiarities as an individual, was the master of a subscription 
school in the Eorough school house in the summer and winter of 1828 and 
during several quarters in ISi'.t. 

W. G. Torrance taught, in addition to the English branches, surveying 
and bookkeeping in the Borough school house in 1830 and the spring of 

1831. The tuition was §3 a quarter, seventy-two days to constitute a 1^^^ 

quarter. ^iQ 

Abel R. Corljin opened a subscription school in the Borough school ]^§ 

house in the autumn of 1831. All the common English studies were taught, %S 

together with rhetoric, algebra, natural philosophy and chemistry. ^^p 

Peter R. PearsoU, in the spring of 1830, opened a school, in which the <l!i@ 

studies were reading, writing, grammar, arithmetic, geography, and the "^^m 

German language for those desiring to pursue that study. Mr. PearsoU ^^Qt, 

likewise gave lessons on the piano and other musical instruments to young ]§§ 

ladies and gentlemen at their places of residence. He also conducted sub- ^i^S 

scription schools during the five succeeding years, sometimes in the Bor- loS 

ough school house and sometimes in rooms elsewhere in the town. ^^&. 

Maurice Scanlon occupied the Borough school house in the autumn and ]^^® 

winter of 1832. |^jQ 

John ^MuTsevin inaugurated a school, or ".seminary," as he designated ^^^ 

it, in January, 1833, for the instruction of both young ladies and gentle- ?SlS 

men. It was reopened and continued during the spring of that year. ]^^p 

Robert ^Montgomery was the teacher of both a day and a night school in <^^Q, 

Greensburg during the winter of 1834. 1^^^ 

Lazarus B. McLain taught a school in the summer of 1836. Instruction ^^jQ 
was imparted in all the English branches and the higher mathematics. 

[ 12« ] 



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In accord with the law of 1809, which specially provided 
for "the education of the poor gratis," Westmoreland county 
made a regular annual expenditure, beginning with ISl-t. In 
that year the county paid §6^.13 "for schoolmasters for 
teaching poor children." The sum disbursed, for the purpose 




named, was increased from j^ear to year, until 1836, when 
the largest outlay was made, being $588. 44^. Schools having 
in attendance pupils of that character wei-e commonly re- 
ferred to as "pauper schools," by persons not in sympathy 
with the law providing for them. The schools in which the 
poor children were taught gratis were not conducted 
as independent or separate schools. Such pupils 
were reported by the parents to the Assessor, and 
after the County Commissioners held their appeals, 
and revised the lists, the Assessor placed a revised 
list of such children in the hands of the teachers of 
schools within his township, borough or ward. 
Teachers were required to receive such children, in- 
struct them the same as the other pupils, keep a re- 
cord of the number of days they attended, and make 
. out an account, under oath, against the county. 

In 1816 a Female Sunday School Association oc- 
cupied the old Greensburg academy, on Sunday 
mornings, and taught youth of all classes free. Un- 
lettered adults were also admitted and instructed 
without cost. The expenses of the Association were 
met by memlsers paying a certain sum annually, and 
voluntary contributions. 

Eji-RLX SCHOOL TEXT BOOKS. 

There were no distinctive book stores in Greens- 
burg during the tirst quarter of the present century. 
While a few books, of a religious or historical char- 



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acter, were kept for sale by some of the persons engaged in 
general merchandising, and at the postoffice, the largest and 
most varied stocks in the town were vended at the several 
printing offices. The editors combined the selling and pub- 
lishing of books with the newspaper business. A list of 
school books advertised for sale, "either single or by the 
dozen," at the Greensburgh Gazette office, in 1818, doubtless. 




RESIDE^■CE OF MR. LEOPOLD FURTWANGLER. 
Main Street. 



[128] 



also represented those used in the families and schools of the 
borough. The list was as follows : 

"Bibles and Testaments. United States Spelling Book. 
Child's First Spelling Book. Murray's Grammar. Complete 
Letter-Writer. Also 

"The English Reader; or pieces in prose and poetry, select- 
ed from the best writers; with observations on the principles 
of good reading. Price 75 cents. 

"Introduction to the English Reader; or a selection of 
pieces in prose and poetry, for the younger class of learn- 
ers. Price 50 cents. 

"The Western Calculator; or a new and comprehensive 
system of practical Arithmetick, in eight parts. — By J. 
Stockton, A. M. Price 75 cents. 

"A New Sj'stem of Mercantile Arithmetick; adapted to 
the commerce of the United States, in its domestic and for- 
eign relations; with forms of accounts and other writings 
usually occurring in trade. — By Michael Walsh, A. M. 
Price 75 cents. 

"The Star, a collection of Songs, humorous, sentimental 
and patriotick — many of them relating to the late war." 



Borough School Houses. 

As previously stated, the tirst school house in Greens- 
burg (then Xewtown) was erected about the year 1785. 
It was built by voluntary contributions of the residents of 



1 









the village and vicinity, on land owned by William Jack, 
Esq. At that early period, it is understood, he donated the 
lot verbally for the use of a school. After the borough was 
incorporated, Mr. Jack, on April 18, 1803, executed a deed 
(shown in full on a preceding page) for the same to The Bur- 
gesses and Inhabitants of the Borough of Greensburg. The 




site of the log school house was on ground formerly known 
as ''The Commons," but now embraced in the old St. Clair 
cemetery. It was originally located at that point because of 
the proximity to an excellent, never-failing spring, a very 
important consideration in those primitive days. Although 
the log, or Borough school house, as it was better known, 
was somewhat remodeled and improved in subsequent 
years, the main outlines remained the same until 
April, 1833. The building was then torn down to 
make way for a brick school house. The latter, a 
one-story structure, 28x34 feet, was built in the sum- 
mer of 1833, and occupied during the winter of that 
year. It was constructed at the expense of the bor- 
ough, under a contract with, and the supervison of, 
the Board of Burgesses. The brick, or new Borough 
school house, was erected on the same site as the old^ 
or log Borough school house. The brick building is 
still standing, near the spring, in the old St. Clair 
cemetery. It having been abandoned for school pur- 
poses, in 1857, the ground and little brick school 
house passed into the possession of the St. Clair 
Cemetery Association. Since that time the building 
has been occupied as a dwelling. The illustration, on 
page 130, shows the south side of the structure, 
which was the front when it was used as a school 
house, although the north side has been made the 
front since its occupancy as a dwelling. 






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Common School System, 

Citizens of Greensburg favored the principle of free or 
public schools long before the plan ^vas first attempted under 




BOROUGH SCHOOL HOUSE. 

(Now a Dwelline) Old St. Clair Cemetery. 

Erected 1833. 



the Act entitled "An Act to Establish a General System of 
Education liy Common Schools," enacted in 1834. That fact 
was made manifest Isy the borough maintaining a school 
building for thirty years previously, and the Burgesses fre- 
quently employing a teacher to put the school in 
operation. Touching the methods or provisions of 
the law of 1834, however, residents of Greensburg, 
like tho.se of the 'county at large, were pretty evenly 
and firmly divided. As required by the Act referred 
to, Sheriff Samuel L. Carpenter issued a proclamation 
for an election on the third Friday of September, 
1834, in the various districts of the Westmoreland 
school division, to determine whether the terms of 
the new law should be accepted or rejected. Out of 
the twenty districts in the county, at that time, one- 
half elected Directors favorfible to adopting the pro- 
visions of the statute. In the borough of Greens- 
burg the vote was on the negative side by a majority 
of three. As provided by the Act, a joint meeting 
of the County Commissioners and one delegate from 
each school district in the county was held at 
Greensl)urg. on the first Tuesday of November fol- 
lowing the election. Two of the Commissioners and 
twenty delegates, representing every district, were 
present. On the question, "Will the meeting agree 
that a (county) tax for the use of common schools 
for each district be levied T' the roll call showed 
eleven yeas and eleven nays. Being decided in the 




negative the convention adjourned sine die. One of the from the following districts: Allegheny, Derry, Donegal, 
County Commissioners voted in the affirmative and the other Fairfield, Ligonier, Loyalhanna, Rostraver and Washington 
in the negative. The yea votes were cast by the delegates townships, and Youngstown and Ligonier boroughs. After 

the adjournment of the general meeting the 
delegates who had voted in favor of a tax con- 
vened and resolved that the sum of $4,6.50 be 
evied for school purposes. It was further re- 
solved that the meeting of the people of those 
several districts, as provided by the school law, 
be held at the usual place of holding elections in 
those townships and boroughs, on the first 
Tuesday of the ensuing December, to decide by 
a majority vote, if they would authorize the 
levying of a district school tax. 

For the election in March, 1835, citizens of 
Greensburg favorable to common schools, 
under the law of 1834, nominated Henry D. 
Foster and William Ramsey for Directors, and 
those opposed placed John H. Isett and Peter 
Rummell in nomination. The latter were elec- 
ted by a small majority. When the new and 
materially amended law of 1836 was enacted, 
practically all opposition in Greensburg vanish- 
ed. It was made clearly manifest by their sub- 
sequent actions, that it was not the system that 
a majority of the citizens, of this place, were 
dissatisfied with in the law of 1834, but certain 



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of the provisions of the Act, which occasioned many persons 
to characterize it as "an ol)noxions hxw." 

At tlie county convention of delegates from the various 
school districts of Westmoreland, in Greensljurg, May 2, 
1836, under the new law, It w'as determined "that a county 
tax for common school pur- 
poses be levied for each 
district equal to that of the 
prcEeut county tax." Resi- 
dents of the Greensburg 
school district held a meet- 
ing in the Court House, on 
May 21, of that year, and 
went still further than the 
county delegate conven- 
tion. They adojited a reso- 
lution "that double the 
amount of the county tax 
for the borough be impos- 
ed, in addition to that de- 
termined upon by the joint 
meeting of delegates, for a 
school tax for the vear 
1837." 




VIEW OF GREKNSBUHO. FROM BUNKER HH^L. IN 1840, 



First Common Schools, 

Messrs. John Kuhns, Daniel Kiehl, John H. Isett, Peter 
Kunnnell. Joim Y. Harelav and Joseijb II. Kuhns constituted 



the first Board of School Directors, of Greensburg, under 
the common school law. The first term of the common 
schools was for six months, and liegan on Monday, February 
13, 1837. Three schools were put in operation with James 
Jones, Peter R. Pearsoll and Mrs. jMary Foster as the 

teachers. Mr. Jones' pupils 
occupied a room in the 
Greensburg academy build- 
ing. Mr. Pearsoll taught 
in the Borough school 
house, and jNIrs. Foster in- 
structed the children com- 
mitted to her care in a 
room in her own house. 
The salary of the first 
named teacher, for the 
term, was Silo; the second, 
S180; and the third, ?9.5, 
with an additional allow- 
ance of S3.5 for fuel. The 
following rules and regula- 
tions for the schools were 
adopted l)y the Board of 
Directors and two hundred printed copies distributed among 
the families of the district : 

"P'irst — Parents or guardians desirous of sending their 
children to any of the schools are to hand to either of the 
Directors a written application, stating the names and ages 



[133 J 



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of their respective children or wards, to be laid before the 
Board of Directors, who will meet on every ^Monday evening 
for the consideration of the same. 




"Second — Children above the age of four years will be ad- 
mitted into the schools. 

"Third — The hours of instruction shall be from 9 to 12 a. 
M., and from 2 to -t p. m., for the first quarter. 
Vacation on the afternoons of Saturday of every 
week. 

"Fourth — Parents or guardians will not be 
permitted at any time to interfere in the gov- 
ernment of the schools, and are requested to be 
particular in sending their children to school at 
the stated hour. 

"Fifth — Children absenting themselves for 
two days in succession, without a reasonable 
cause, shall forfeit their places in the schools 
until they receive a vote of admission from the 
Board of Directors. 

"Sixth — Parents and guardians will be held 
responsible for any damages done by their 
children or wards to the school room furniture 
or stationery, etc., belonging to the Board." 

It was resolved by the Board that, as the 
school law made no distinct provision for the 
tuition of colored children, and as the funds of 
the Board were limited and the schools crowd- 
ed, that it would be inexpedient to admit per- 
sons of color, at present, in the common schools 
of the district. It was further resolved that 
the Burgesses be requested to have the Court 






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House bell rung at 9 a. m. and 2 p. m., each day, for the pur- 
pose of regulating the hours of school. Several months later 
the hours of opening the schools were changed to 8 a, 



M. and 





1 p. M., the sessions to continue three 

an<l three hours in the afternoon. 

For the school year ending the first Monday of June, 1837, 
the State appropriation was S2()0,(»00. Of that 
sum the Greensburg school district received 
St09.40. For the ensuing school year, a dis- 
trict tax of double the amount of the State ap- 
propriation was le\'ied. It was carefully esti- 
mated that, for the school j^ear beginning the 
first Monday in June, 1838, the sum of $.560, 
over and above the ordinary tax and State ap- 
propriation, would be necessary for school pur- 
poses. Accordingly, notice was given for a 
meeting of the taxable inhabitants of the dis- 
trict, on May 1, in conformity with the provis- 
ions of the law, to vote on the question of 
whether the additional tax for school purposes 
should be levied and assessed. The increase 
was formally approved 1)y the taxiibles. At a 
meeting of the qualified citizens of the district, 
held on the 5th of May, 18-10, in accordance 
with the law, it was decided by ballot that the 
common school system should be continued in 
Greensburg. For some reason, however, not 
now fully understood, there was no Board of 
School Directors in existence, and, consequent- 
ly, no comnK)n schools in operation from ISIay 
1, 1841, to May 1, 18-13. Ou the latter date a 






full new Board of Directors was elected, the schools again 
opened and continued thereafter without notable incident or 
interruption. 




GREENSEnBG STEA5I LAU-XHUY. 

Joseph K. Robinson, Proprietor. 
West Tliird Street. 



Greensburg Female Seminary, 

An Act was passed by the General Assembly and approved 
April 12, 1838, which was supplemental to the existing school 
laws. Its purpose was to encourage a higher educa- 
tion than that afforded by the common schools. 
Among its provisions was an annual State appropria- 
tion of §iOO to each academy and female seminary, 
now incorporated or which may be incorporated, 
maintaining one or more teachers capable of giving 
instruction in the Greek and Roman classics, mathe- 
matics and English or English and German literature, 
and in which at least twenty-live pupils shall con- 
stantly be taught in either or all of the branches 
aforesaid. Taking advantage of this assistance offer- 
ed by the State, "The Greensburg Female Sem- 
inary," was duly incorporated April 18, 1838, with 
the following trustees : Rev. N. P. Hacke, Rev. J. 
M. Steck, Rev. Robert Henry, A. G. Marchand, 
John Y. Barclay, Joseph H. Kuhns, William Mc- 
Kinney, S. B. Bushfield, John Morrison, J. M. Bur- 
rell, John Kuhns and Jehu Taylor. 

The first session of the seminary was opened De- 
cember 3, 1838, with Rev. J. L. Harrison, rector of 
the Episcopal church, as principal. At the autumn 
term, 1842, Miss S. A. Burton became principal of 
the institution and continued in that capacity until 
1843. In that year, because of the urgent need of 



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money for the great internal improvements, then under way, 
the State appropriation to academies and seminaries was 
materially reduced. Female students had always been ad- 
mitted to the Greensburg academy. With the attendance of 
such students divided between those institutions, and the 



State aid greatly diminished, the Greensburg Female Sem- 
inary was compelled to close its career. 





DISTRICT SCHOOL HOUSE. 

{Xow a Dwelling) South Main Street. 

Erected 1852 



[laB] 



District School House, 

After the location of the line of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad along the northern Ijorder of the school lot. it was 
recognized that the Borough school house would soon 
have to be vacated for scliool purposes. That building 
likewise only afforded accommodation for one school. 
The Board of Directors, therefore, decided to procure 
ground on the south side of the town, a number of de- 
sirable lots then being on the market there, and that 
locality iieing remote from the proposed railroad. A 
lot, 30x93 feet, on the east side of South Main Street 
(being the same now occupied by the residence of Mr. 
Caleb A. Steck) was purchased from Henry D. Foster 
for 8110 in May, 1848. It was resolved to erect a school 
house thereon. Failure of the Collector to make settle- 
ment, however, necessitated postponement of the build- 
ing operations. In November, ISlii, the trustees of the 
Methodist church, which was situated on the opposite 
side of the street, proposed to sell that lot and building 
to the school ilistrict for SfilO. They were also willing 
to accept the Foster lot at cost as part of the considera- 
tion. An agreement to that effect was concluded. 
Deeds were exchanged in April, 18.50, the cash balance 




paid the trustees and the keys of the old church delivered to 
the Board of Directors. After being somewhat remodeled, 
the building was put into use for several schools in May, of 
that year. A school was also continued in the Borough school 
house, but, in July, it was found necessary to temporarily 




RESIDENX'E OF THE HEIRS OP MR. JOHN ZIMMERMAN. 

West Otterman Street. [137 



close that school because of the commotion and danger arising 
from the blasting of rock in the railroad work then actively 
under way. In November, 1851, a violent storm so badly 
damaged the old church or scliool house, on South Main 
Street, that it was beyond repair, and the construction of a 
new building was made imperative. Plans and 
specifications for a two-story brick structure were 
prepared, and a contract for the erection thereof 
was awarded to George T. Ramsey, in June, 1852, 
for Si, .300. Subsequently Samuel B. Ramsey as- 
sumed the contract and completed the building. 
It was occupied for the purpose intended on the 
tirst Monday of September, 1853. This building 
was commonly called the District school house to 
distinguish it from the Borough school house, 
the title of the former being vested in the school 
district and that of the latter in the borough cor- 
poration. Ten years later when the Second Ward, 
or school building No. 1, was completed, the Dis- 
trict school house was sold to Israel Uncapher, 
who transformed it into a dwelling. The building, 
as it appears at present, is shown in the illustra- 
tion on page 136. 

Messrs. Thomas J. Barclay, John Armstrong, 
Jr., John W. Turney, Daniel Welty, Samuel S. 
Turney and Simon Detar constituted the Board of 
Directors, in 1852, under whose supervision the 
District school house vfas erected. 









i 









Old Academy Lot Acquired. 

In the spring of 1857 the Board of Directoi-s, because of 
its noisy location and limited space, decided to no longer oc- 
cupy the Borough school house. Notice of that decision was 
given the Board of Burgesses, an<l the latter transferred the 




WESTMINSTER PRESBYTEIUAN CHURCH. 

Corner West Pittsburg and Mill Street. 
Erected 1892. 



property to the St. Clair Cemetery Association, on May 29, 
18.57. In November, of that year, the School Directors hought 
a lot, situated at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Third 
Street (present site of the United Presbyteriaa church) from 
Joiin Kuhns, Sr., the consideration being S-t7.>. The purpose 
was to erect a commodious school building at that point. 
. Pending decisive action as to ways and means, however, 
a movement was inaugurated for the enlargement of the 
liorough limits, which then terminated at Tunnel Street, 
on the north. The new boundaries, as contemplated, 
would bring the ground of the old Greenshurg academy 
within the lines of the Ijorough, and the school district 
likewise. Under those conditions the acquisition of the 
academy lot for a common school building suggested it- 
self. That beautiful plot had been practically abandoned 
for school purposes after the burning of the academy 
building. Funds were lacking to replace the structure. 
Attempts had been made to conduct an academy or ad- 
vanced school, under the supervision of the academy trus- 
tees, in rented rooms at \arious places in the town, but 
they were irregular and the attendance somewhat discour- 
aging. In the meantime the spacious lot had been con- 
verted into a place for holding county fairs, horse races, 
circuses, and a resort for disorderly characters. By an 
Act of the General Assembly, approved March 30, ISfiO, 
in the nature of a supplement to the original statute of in- 
corporation, the borough lines were materially extended 
and included the academy lot. Formal action followed to 




Wy 



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have the property transferred to the Greensburg school 
district. It was believed that such could be done without 
impairing the object of the founders of the academy. Instead 
of being detrimental it was decided that it would be advan- 
tageous, both to the academy and the common schools, as 
one spacious and substantial building could be erected that 




would be capable of accommodating both schools. Moreover, 
by combining their resources, the academy corporation and 
the common school district could accomplish what would be 
almost impossible for the former and a very heavy burden 
upon the latter. Public sentiment being favorable to such a 
consummation, the Legislature passed a special Act, approved 
April IT, 1861, which provided "That the trustees 
of the Greensburg academy, in the county of 
Westmoreland, be and they are hereby authorized 
and empowered to convey by deed, in fee simple, 
all the real estate of the aforesaid corporation, 
and also to assign and transfer all the personal 
property and funds belonging thereto, to the 
school district of Greensburg borough, in said 
county, for the purpose of common school educa- 
tion; provided, that two-thirds of the said trustees 
shall join in such conveyance and transfer, and 
that the same shall be approved by the Court of 
Conunon Pleas of said county." 

Ju.st at that time the awful realitj' that civil war 
was at hand, burst upon the nation, and so agitated 
the public mind, that other matters were left in 
temporary abeyance. At the next session of the 
Legislature, in a general Act, approved May 20, 
1862, bearing the title of "A further supplement 
to the Act, entitled 'An Act for the regulation and 
continuance of a System of Education by Common 



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Schools,' approved the 8th day of May, 1854," was em- 
bodied, as section sixteen, the following^ : 

"That the trustees of any academy' or seminary, in this 
commonwealth, which received money or land therefrom. 




RESIDENCE OF MR. THOMAS L. JONES. 
East Second Street. 



for educational purposes, are herel)y authorized and em- 
powered to convey, by deed of not less than two-thirds of 
their number, to be approved by the Court of Common Pleas 
of the proper county, all the real estate, buildings and prop- 
erty, and funds of, or belonging thereto, to the Board 
(if Directors and their successors in office, of the com- 
mon schools of the district in which the main building 
thereof may be situated, to be used and applied by said 
Directors for the purposes of common school education 
therein, and for no other purpose: Provided, That 
when a high common school shall have been established 
therein, by means of said property, the citizens of the 
county within which said district is situated, shall have 
the right to have their sons and daughters admitted into 
such high school, if duly qualided, on paying the treas- 
lu-er of .said district the same rate of tuition, for each, 
which it shall annually cost .said district, per student, to 
keep .said higli school in operation, without adding any- 
thing thereto for the use of the building." 

Fully satisfied with the authority and power granted 
l)y those two statutes, Messrs. Joseph 11. Kvdins, Jacob 
Welly, John !M. Laird, David K. Marchand, William 
II. Markle, John Loor, Caleb H. Stark and John Arm- 
strong, composing the board of trustees of the Greens- 
burg academy, executed a deed, conveying the original 
lot, purchased from William Best, embracing one acre 
and l-tSt.o perches, to the Greensburg school district; 
and, "further, the trustees aforesaid do by these pres- 




ents, in consideration of the agreements or stipulations here- 
inafter mentioned, transfer, assign and set over to the said 
school district aforesaid all moneys and stocks of or belong- 




ing to the said trustees, for the purpose of common school 
education, to have and to hold the same to the said school 
district aforesaid, its successors and assigns forever. 

"In consideration of the foregoing 
conveyance and transfer, it is especial- 
ly understood and agreed by the Di- 
rectors of the said school district afore- 
said, for themselves and successors, by 
the acceptance of this conveyance, that 
they, the Board of School Directors 
of the Greensburg school district 
aforesaid shall and forthwith proceed 
to erect upon the lot of ground here- 
in conveyed to them, a suitable build- 
ing for school purposes, in which 
they shall provide ample and sufficient 
school rooms and privileges for an 
academy, which shall be set apart for 
the use of said academy, and be and 
remain under the control and direc- 
tion of the said trustees and their 
successors to be used and enjoyed by 
the same, free of any charge, so long 
as the said trustees shall deem it ex- 
pedient to do so; provided, that if an 
academy be not put in operation and 
maintenance, in said building by said 
trustees, and a high school should at 



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any time be estaljHshed by said Board of School Directors, 
the children of the citizens of Westmoreland county shall 
be admitted thereto, if duly qualified, on paying to the 
Treasurer of said district the same rale of tuition for each 
which it shall annually cost said district, per student, to 




keep said high school in operation. This conveyance and trans- 
fer made by virtue of the authority contained in the Act of As- 
sembly of ITth April, 18(51, and the Act of 11th April, 1862." 
The deed was dated and signed Isy all the trustees on May 20, 
1862. After due consideration the transfer was formally ap- 
proved in open court. 



RESIDENCE OF MRS. E. W. TOWXSEXD. 

North Main Street. 



New Academy, or School Building No, 1. 

With a perfect title to the ground, and stipulations which 
the}' were able to fulfill, the Board of School Directors prompt- 
ly proceeded toward the erection of a spacious and sul)stantial 
building. In addition to the ground, §1,850 in cash was receiv- 
ed from the trustees of the old academy. Subsequently the lot 
at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue 'and Third Street was 
disposed of for sJ-triO, and the District School house property, 
on South Main Street, for §831. The contract for the new 
structure was awarded, on June 12, 1862, to the building firm 
of Lyon & Bierer, composed of Messrs. Gordon ]\I. Lyon and Z. 
P. Bierer, at §'.i,-tO0. Work was commenced without delay and 
prosecuted with vigor. The site of the new structure included 
and covered the ground occupied by the old academy. It was 
.stipulated in the contract that the new building must be com- 
pleted, or, at least, ready for occupancy, early in June, 1863. 
That result was accomplished. The interior arrangement of the 
handsome house was practically the same then as it is at present. 
There are four large rooms on the first floor, with a broad hall, 
[ 143J_ 





and two school rooms, a principal's office and an assembly 
room, 'about 45x60 feet, on the second floor. Between the 
time of the awarding of the contract for the structure, and 
its completion, because of the civil war, the price of building 
material and the wages of skilled labor, underwent a marked 
advance. With the additional allowances made the contract- 
ors, and the furnishings, the cost of the new .school house 
was about Sl2,000. 

The building was first occupied for school purposes in July, 
1863. The four rooms on the lower floor were put into use 
as common schools, with John ^. Caldwell, Joseph S. Walt- 
hour, Miss Maria Baughman and Miss Isabella J. Williams as 
the' corps of teachers. It was designed that the upper floor 
should be set apart for the academy. Repeated efforts were 
made during the ensuing two years to re-awaken interest and 
re-establish that institution. They were not attended with very 
satisfactory or encouraging results, however, and the project 
was reluctantly abandoned. Accordingly, a High school de- 
partment was introduced into the common school course, in the 
spring of 1864. It has since been maintained and the stand- 
ard gradually raised and improved. Although the house here 
referred to is now generally designated Xo. 1, or Second 
Ward school building, it was commonly called "the new aca- 
demy,"' for a number of years, and thereafter "the academy," 
until 1883, when school building No. 2 was erected. 

The new academy was built under the control of the fol- 
owing Board of Directors: Messrs. Jacob Turney, James C. 



te 






^M^ Clarke, C. R. Painter, J. C. McCausland, Thomas J. Barclay 
and Alexander Kilffore. 




In February, 1876, the Board of School Directors purchas- 
ed an adjoining lot, on the south, from !Mr. Leopold Furt- 
Tvangler, for ^2,1)00, embracing 10!.ix'205 feet, 
and added it to the ground acquired from the 
trustees of the Greensburg academy, thus mak- 
ing the beautiful plot, now possessed by the 
school district, with a frontage of over 550 feet 
on Main Street and a like frontage on Maple 
Avenue. The funds for the purchase of the 
Furtwangler lot were almost entirely in the 
nature of tines, which accrued to the school dis- 
trict under the operations of the "local option 
law." 



RESIDENCE UF MR. A. E. MARTIN. 
West Pittsburg Street. 



No. 2, or Fourth Ward School Building. 

Owing to the con.stantly increasing attendance 
at the schools, it became apparent in 1S81 that 
provisions were necessary for permanently en- 
larged quarters. After careful delilieration, 
the Board of Directors determined upon the 
erection of a new or additional building. As 
No. 1 school house is located in the northern 
part of the district, it was deemed advisable that 
the proposed new structure be placed in the 
southern section of the town. What was re- 
garded as a suitable lot, situated at the corner 




^m 



of Third Street and Euclid Avenue, was purchased on 
October 11, 1881, from Hon. James C. Clarke, for ^,000. It 




had a frontage of 152 feet and a depth of 300 feet. Mr. 

Clarke also agreed and did donate a sufficient amount of 
ground to open or extend Fourth Street along 
the south side of the lot. To meet the cost of 
the ground and building, the Board of Direc- 
tors created a Isonded loan of §21,, 500. Satisfac- 
tory plans and specifications having been pre- 
pared, and bids solicited, the contract for the 
new structure was awarded, on April 10, 1883, 
to Louis W. Bott, for 820,417. In less than a 
year thereafter the elegant edifice, shown on 
this page, was ready for partial occupancy. 

The extreme dimensions of the building are 
86ix661 feet. It is constructed of brick and 
cut stone. The walls of the first story are eigh- 
teen inches in thickness, and above, thirteen 
inches, while the partition walls are also of 
brick, and nine inches in thickness. There are 
eight airy, well-lighted school rooms, 2.5x35 
feet each, all having a connecting cloak room or 
apartment. The three hallways are tweh-e feet 
wide, with an octagonal rotunda, 22x22 feet, 
and two broad stairways. On the second floor, 
in addition to the four school rooms, is a prin- 
cipal's ofiice and book room. Having a mansard 
roof, there is also a lofty attic. The heating 
and ventilating system, in use in the building, 
is of the most approved modern pattern, and 






m 



^215 the general sanitary arrangements are excellent. The ample 
grovmds, surrounding the building, are adorned with trees, 
^^> shrubbery, ilower plots, smooth sward and graceful terraces. 
^S3I Messrs. John Latta, Joseph J. Johnston, Eli Beck, J. J. 

^^i> Wirsing, James S. Moorhead and John H. Highberger form- 



ed the Board of Directors at the time the splendid building 
was constructed. 




RESIDENCE OF MR. P. F. M'CANN. 
Oakland Avenue, 



No. 3, or Fifth Ward School Building, 

Although Bunker Hill borough was duly incor- 
porated on December 10, 1887, ofBcials for the 
same were not elected until the ensuing general 
election, on the third Tuesday of February, 1888. 
Included within the corporate limits was a sub- 
stantial, one-story brick school house, which had 
been erected while the territory of the new bor- 
ough was yet a part of the Hemptield township 
school district. Pending arrangements for the 
construction of a more modern and commodious 
building, the whilom township school house was 
utilized for common school purposes. Its situa- 
tion, however, in the extreme northwestern part 
of the young borough, was not regarded as a 
favorable one for the proposed new building. The 
Board of School Directors, accordingly, purchased 
two lots, on April 1, 1889, from Mr. Uriah G. 
Kemp, the consideration being §1.100. Together, 
the lots had a frontage of 100 feet on Spring 
Street, and an equal depth of 170 feet, aligning 
ou an alley, on the west. The location was near 
the centre of the district. Soon after securing: 





the ground the Board of Directors, composed of Messrs. J. 
C. Rohrbacher, Lewis Sanders, Adam Deemer, John Rohr- 
bacher, John S. Eicher and Amos Plutchinson, awarded the 




contract for the erection of a building, in conformity with 
certain plans and specifications, to Mr. Robert Fulton, the 
cost of the same, when fijiished, being about §7,000. To 
provide for the outlay, a bonded loan 
of ST, 000 was negotiated. By diligent 
work on the part of the contractor, the 
structure was brought to a sufficient 
stage of completion to be occupied for 
school use in the autumn of 1889. The 
dimensions of the building are 80x40 
feet. Brick and stone were used in the 
construction. The building embraces 
four large school rooms, two good-sized 
halls, a broad stairway and an attic. 
The district having no further need of 
the old township school house and 
ground, disposed of the same, and the 
little brick building was converted into 
a dwelling by the purchaser. 

When Bunker Hill borough was merg- 
ed with Greensburg, in 1894, as the 
Fifth ward, of course, the school prop- 
erty was likewise brought within the 
Greensburg school district. It was then 
that it became known as No. 3, or Fifth 
ward school building. After the con- 
solidation a number of important im- 
provements were made in the building, 









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m 






in the way of heating, ventilation and other sanitary feat- 
ures. On October 31, 18!I4, two additional lots were pur- 
chased from Mr. Uriah G. Kemp for Si, 000. Those two lots 
adjoin the others, belonging to the school district, on the 



north, making the aggregate frontage of the school grounds 
190 feet on Spring Street. The betterments of the building 
and surroundings, and the additional lots, have increased the 
value of the property of the school district, in that ward, 
about §6,000. 




CE OF W. S. BYEES, ESQ. 
Mill Street. 



[148] 



Greensburg High School. 

Following the opening of the schools on Sep- 
tember 9, 1S9.5, it was discovered that there was 
a very large increase in the number of pupils in 
attendance. No more rooms being available on 
the upper floors of the school buildings, tem- 
porary apartments were provided in the base- 
ments of iSos. 1 and 2 buildings, formerly 
occupied by the families of janitors, and addi- 
tional schools established therein for about one 
hundred pupils. Notwithstanding those ar- 
rangements, it was found that all the regular 
rooms were still in a crowded condition. Be- 
cause of the Compulsory Education law, which 
had been approved in jSIay, and would Ijecome 
operative at the opening of the ensuing school 
year, and. in all probability, further increase 
the number of pupils, the Board of Directors 
realized that an additional building was neces- 
sary. At the regular monthly meeting of the 
Directors, on September 16, the situation was 








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carefully considered and a new building virtually determined 
upon. However, a committee was appointed to inquire into 
the subject, in all its features, and report to the Board. 
After receiving the report of the committee, on November 
18, and a thoughtful discusssion of the condition of affairs, 




DRUG STOUE OF MR. S. L. WALTHOnR. 
Main Street. 




[150] 



the Board of Directors decided upon the erection of an addi- 
tional Ijuilding. It was determined that the new structure 
should be for High school purposes: that its location should 
be on the old academy, or Second ward grounds, north of 
No. 1 building; that it should have accommodations for 350 
pupils, 200 in the preparatory department and 160 in the 
High school proper, and that an architect Ise employed 
without delay to prepare plans. 

In the deJD^erations as to the character of the contem- 
plated new building, the Board 'of Directors regarded the 
probable'demands of the future as to school facilities. It 
was maintained that at no far distant day all the subur- 
ban or abutting Ijoroughs would likely be merged with 
Greensburg, both in the matter of municipal and school 
government. As all those boroughs are provided with 
comparatively new and substantial buildings, well adapted 
for primary and intermediate ward schools, the paramount 
need, under- such 'conditions, would be a central High 
school. It was like\yise_agreed that, even if a general con- 
solidation of the cluster of boroughs and' school districts 
should not occur, the most pressing need of the Greens- 
burg district was a High school building. With a school 
census of 1,.500, and the Greensburg district being obli- 
gated at all times to receive students from any part'of 
Westmoreland county into its High school department (of 
which there are always a number in attendance) on the 
payment of the same rate of tuition which it annually 
costs the district, per student, to maintain that department. 





under the covenant on which the old Greensburg academy 
lot was acquired, it was decided that the increasing at- 
tendance in the secondary grades rendered the erection of 
a building, of the character indicated, the most expedient, 
both for the present and the future. 




Plans and specifications were prepared by Mr. W. S. Fra- 
zer, of Pittsburg, the architect chosen for that work, in con- 
formity with the style of building outlined by the Board of 
Directors. Proposals for its construction having been solicit- 
ed, a number were received and opened on May .5, 1896. As 
they all exceeded the sum which the Directors felt warranted 
in expending, the architect was instructed to make certain 
changes in material, to reduce the cost, preserving at the 
same time the general outlines of the building as originally, 
designed. Bids having again been received, based on the 
modified plans, they were opened on June 1. Messrs. 
Kennedy, Hamilton & Fair being the lowest bidders, were 
awarded the contract on that day, at 858,027. Ground for 
the splendid structure, which is now the pride of the school 
district, was first broken on Tuesday, June 16, 1896. Mr. 
James Wentzell supervised the work, as the representative 
of the Directors, from the beginning until the building was 
completed. At the time the erection of a High school struc- 
ture was determined upon, and the plans adopted, the Board 
of Directors was composed of the following persons : 

First Ward — Joseph J. Johnston, .Tames S. Moorhead and 
A. M. Sloan. 

Second Ward — John M. Jamison, John M. Zimmerman 
and B. F. Vogle. 

Third Ward— C. T. Barnhart, T. F. Lyon and Theodore 
Hammer. 

Fourth Ward — Leonard Keck, George H. Hugus and 



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Fifth M^'ai-d— Jesse Hunter, H. M. Zundel and R. D. 

AYoltf. 

To provide for the cost of the building, and the re- 
demption of !?iri,(»0(t of bonded indebtedness, part of 
^'hich remained of the loan for No. 2 liuilding and part 
of which was acquired in the consolidation of Bunker 
Hill borough, the Board of School Directors, on July 




RESIDENCE OP MR. W. C. 
Brown Avenue. 



1, 1896, created a bonded loan of 174,000, the bonds to bear five 
per cent, interest (the holder to pay the State tax) and to run from 
five to thirty years. 

Much luifavorable weather, during the summer of 1896, retard- 
ed the work on the Ijuilding in its early stages. Because of that 
delay, due to no fault of the contractors, the time for the com- 
pletion of the structure, was extended beyond that called for in 
the contract. The magnificent temple of education was finished 
in August, and first occupied at the opening of the school term on 
Monday, September 6, 1897. The building is constructed of Pom- 
peiian repressed butf brick, with Cleveland cut-stone trimmings 
and rock-faced foundation. The roof is of slate, and the gutters, 
copper. From north to .'outh the extreme length of the structure 
is 138 feet, and from front to rear, west to east, 118 feet, or, in- 
cluding the handsome stone porch, 13i feet. Its height is 78 feet. 

In the front half of the basement are the furnace, engine, fresh 
and foul air rooms, and separate lavatories for males and females. 
The heating and ventilating system is of the most approved mod- 
ern pattern. Two revolving fans, each ten feet in diameter, and 
driven bj^ a thirty-five horse power gas engine, furnish the fresh 
and exhaust the foul air. A thermograph in the engine room, 
registers at all times the exact temperature of every apartment, 
above the foundation, in the building. The eastern half of the 
basement, which is above ground, was designed as a room for 
manual training (instructing boys in mechanical drawing and the 
use of tools), which it is expected will be introduced into the 
schools at a future time. 

[152] 




The main entrance hall, on the first floor, is 22 feet in width. 
It intersects, another hall, 20 feet wide, running the entire 
length of the building from north to south. On this floor, all 
having 15-foot ceilings, are four well-lighted school rooms, 
26x39 feet, and a combined liln-ary and Directors' room, 2.ox.50 
feet. A separate cloak room is connected with all the school 
rooms. Four stairways, eight feet wide, and of easy rise, two 
in the north and two in the south wing, lead to the second 
floor, and thence to the third story. The main doorway, and 
two others at the north end, and a like number at the south end, 
of the long hall, furnish ample means of entrance and exit from 
the building. 

On the second floor are two recitation rooms, 2(3x33 feet, a 
physical laboratory, 2.ox30 feet, and an assembly room, 52x40 
feet. Cloak rooms are likewise connected with these several 
apartments. 

An auditorium, 79x84: feet, with a seating capacity of 1,150, 
occupies the third story. By the gradual rise of the floor the 
stage, which is 32x25 feet, is entirely visible from the most re- 
mote seat. On either side of the stage is a dressing room, 14x16 
feet. In the auditorium the ceiling rises from 1 7 feet at the 
corners to 32 feet in the centre, and the delicacy of adjustment 
is such that the acoustic features are almo.st perfect. Large 
opera chairs, with foot stays, render the seating very restful. 
Ticket offices are located in the hallways at the north and south 
entrances to the auditorium. This spacious apartment aft'ords 
accommodations for a larger assembly than any other building 
in Westmoreland county. 



« 















1^ 



Nearly two hundred tons of structural steel were used on 
the interior construction of the building. The wood finish- 
ing is of oak, and the ceilings and walls, white plaster, hard 
finish. The splendid structure is supplied with electric light, 




illuminating gas and city water. Wash stands and drinking 
fountains are located in the halls of the first and second 
stories, and hose connections, for fire purposes, on all the 
floors. In every respect the Greensburg High school is re- 
garded as a complete, modern and model school build- 
ing. The total cost of the structure, with all the interi- 
or furnishings, including desks and seating of the school 
rooms and auditorium, was about SST,000. The beauti- 
ful surrounding grounds are in keeping with the char- 
acter of the building. 



Principals and Superintendent, 

Daring the first twenty-seven years of the operation 
of the common schools, in Greensburg, a Principal was 
deemed unnecessary by the Board of Directors. When 
a High school department was established in March, 
186i, however, the office of Principal was created. The 
duty devolving upon him, during that year, and for 
some years thereafter, was more in the nature of a 
teacher in the High school, than as a directing or super- 
vising teacher of all the schools of the district. An- 
nexed is a list of the Principals of the Greensburg 
schools : 

1864-1866— John N. Caldwell. 

1866— F. N. Bardwell. 

Matthew B. 




1870-'71-'72— J. M. Foster. 
1873-1874:— Samuel Barclay. 
1875-1876— Alexander D. McCoiinell. 
1877— Jacob R. Spiegel. 
1878 — A. Freeman. 




1879-'80-'81-'82-'83— J. J. Sharp. 
1881-'8.5-'86-'87— Z. X. Snyder. 

1888 \ James C. Shields. 

1889 ) N. M. Fenneman. 
1890 — N. M. Fenneman. 
1891-'92-'93— H. B. Twitmyer. 
1894-1895— Frank N. Shaw. 
1896 — A. M. Wyant. 
Greensburg possessing the legal requirements for a 

Borough Superintendent of schools, a convention of the 
Directors of the district was called on April 17, 1897, 
to consider the expediency of establishing that office. 
After mature deliberation, the convention decided by a 
unanimous vote, to elect a Borough Superintendent. At 
a convention convened for that purpose, in accordance 
with the provisions of the law, on May 17, 1897, Prof. 
A. M. Wyant, then Principal of the schools, was unani- 
mously elected the first Borough Superintendent of the 
Greensburg common schools. The election was for a 
partial term, or to fill a vacancy, being until the first 
Tuesday of May, 1899. The regular term of all County, 
City and Borough Superintendents, under the law, is 
for three years, and all are elected triennially at a like 
time, an intervening election being in the nature of sup- 
plying a vacancy or filling an unexpired term. 

The duties of a Borough Superintendent, in Greens- 
burg, are to a large extent similar to those performed 
in more recent years by a Principal. He is empowered, 



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9 



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m 
m 



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SWEDISH EVANGEUCAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. 

Southwest Grooiisburg. 

Erected 1896. 



however, to examine all applicants for teachers in the Greensburg schools. 
The term likewise permits the Superintendent to forecast the school work 
for a longer period than one year, the latter usually being the tenor of a 
Principal's election. As defined by the law "it shall be the duty of all 
City or Borough Superintendents to take a similar oath or afBrmation to 
that now required of County Superintendents, to perform, within the 
limits of their several jurisdictions, all the duties now by law enjoined 
upon County Superintendents and to discharge such other duties as the 
by-laws, rules and regulations of the respective Boards of Directors may 
require; and it shall be the further duty, in addition to an annual report, 
to report monthly to the Department of Connuon Schools, such facts re- 
lating to their work and the condition of the schools under their charge as 
may be required by the Superintendent of Common Schools, and to attend 
meetings of Superintendents called by said Superintendent of Common 
Schools." 

Having created a Borough Superintendency the Greensburg schools are 
not subject to the authority' or jurisdiction of the County Superintendent, 
and the Directors of the Greensburg school district do not participate in 
the election of the County Superintendent. 



Gov, Geary's Good Advice. 

Hon. John W. Geary, a native of Westmoreland, at that time Governor 
of Pennsylvania, while sojourning with relatives in Greensburg, visited 
the public schools, on Friday afternoon, September 16, 1870. He was ac- 
companied by several members of the Board of Directors and a number of 
leading citizens of the town. All the children in the schools were convened 
[156] 




in the large assembly room of the (then) new academy, now 
school building No. 1. A very happy address was made to 
them, in simple language, by the distinguished visitor. It 
was of a reminiscent character, touching in some features, 
and contained so much good advice, that is is reproduced, in 




RESIDENCE OF MR. JAMES KUMBAUUH. 
Ludwick. 



part, as worthy of a place in the annals of the Greensburg 
schools : 

If ever I felt interested in a visit to any public school, anywhere in 
any place, or at any time during my public life, (and I have visited 
more than a thousand of them), I feel interested now in this visit to 
you this day, deeply interested, indeed. Perhaps you will ask why I 
feel thus interested. I will tell you: I am a Westmorelander 
— I was born in this county, and when I was a boy I used 
many a time to paddle these streets of Greensburg, bare- 
footed, as I see many of ycju now. I have never forgotten 
those days, nor have I ever forgotten old "Westmoreland, and 
many a time when far away in other scenes, in distant lands, 
have I called back to my memory the events of the by-gone 
times, and pictured to ray fancy these eternal hills, and blue 
mountains that everywhere meet your eye around you. If I 
shall succeed in convincing you that I am honest and truthful 
in this assertion of the interest 1 feel for you, created as it is 
by the recollection of these early associations and pleasant 
reminiscences, I shall carry away with me a grateful memory 
of this visit, and feel myself amply repaid. It may be true 
that none of you know me. that my face and features are 
strange to you. and that you may never have seeti me before; 
but I feel that I know each and every one of you: I knew your 
fathers and grandfathers, and I feel that still I am one of 
you. The kindness and partiality of the people of this great 
State of Pennsylvania have placed me in the high and re- 
sponsible office of Governor, and they have re-elected me, and 
I feel deeply thankful and grateful to them for this partiality 
and mark of their esteem, and I cannot show my deep sense 
of gratitude, or my appreciation of this unmerited kindness 
in any better way than by taking a direct, warm, personal, 
steadfast interest in the management and welfare of the pub- 
lic schools, and of the children committed to their care. I 
love the schools and always take great delight in visiting 
them and interesting myself in their welfare and success. * * 
There is much improvement m schools and school buildings 
within my recollection. Where this fine building now stands 
there used to be a small brick school house, which they called 
an academy; and a little Latin and Greek was taught at it. 
and it was in its day quite an institution. In other places 
the school houses were log cabins, with a plank against the 












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walls for desks, and slabs, with legs in them, for seats; and some old 
fellow, generally from the old country, with a quill behind his ear and 
a rod in his hand, was the teacher; but the old school houses and the 
old fashioned teachers have all disappeared, and there has been much 
improvement. 

I have taught school myself and know the value of an education, 
and cannot too forcibly impress upon you the necessit.vand importance 
of a thorough acquaintance and study of the elementary branches. 
This is most important and most essential, and is the foundation of all 




education. Acquaint yourselves with geography, grammar, and, by all 
means learn to spell and write well. There is no country in the world 
where bad spelling is so ridiculed and where the use of it is so frequent, 
as in this; and it is a great mistake that many make, that men of talent 
should be bad penmen. I cannot see why a man who has brains enough 
to originate a happy thought should not have the mechanical skill to 
write it plainly and legibly. 

I trust you will think of these things and make good use of your 
school-boy days. You have an eqtial chance, the wide world is before 
you all alike, and let your ambition be to be good scholars now, and 
good and useful citizens hereafter. May God bless you now in j'our 
innocence and childhood, and may his blessing ever attend you 
hereafter, to whatever state of life you may be called. 



RESIDE^'CE OF ME. A. B. M GREW. 
North Main Street. 



[158] 



School District Boundaries. 

The boundaries of the school district of Greensburg 
were the same as those of Greensburg borough for thirty- 
tive years after the adoption of the common school system. 
When the borough limits were extended at various times, 
the action also carried with it a like enlargement of the 
lines of the school district. 

By a special Act of the General Assembly, approved 
April 18, 1872, however, the northeastern boundaries of the 
school district were extended lieyond those of the borough. 
The statute referred to was entitled "An Act to annex the 
farm belonging to the heirs of Alexander Culbertson, de- 
ceased, to the Borough of Greensburg, Westmoreland 
county, for school purposes." 

It is set forth therein that "Whereas, the farm belonging 
to the heirs of Alexander Culbertson, deceased, lies partly 



« 



in Hempfield township and partly within the borough of 
Greensburg, Westmorehmd county ; and, whereas, for the want 
of public roads, it is difficult for those residing on said farm to 
reach the public school house in said township; therefore 

"Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That the farm belonging 
to the heirs of Alexander Culbertson, deceased, situated part- 




y within the borough of Greensburg and partly in the town- 
ship of Hempfield, in Westmoreland coimty, shall be attached 
to said borough of Greensburg for school purposes." 

A large part of the farm here referred to has since been 
laid out in lots and a number of dwellings erected thereon. 
Residents of that locality are assessed and pay school 
taxes, and are permitted to vote for School Direc- 
tors, in the Greensburg school district, but for all 
other purposes and officials they vote and pay 
taxes in Hempfield township. Accordingly, the as- 
sessed valuation of the Greensburg school district is 
greater than the assessed valuation of Greenslsurg 
borough, in proportion to the taxable value of the 
property within the lines of the annexed territory. 

Prior to the merging of Bunker Hill borough with 
Greensburg, the Board of Directors, of the latter 
school district, embraced six members, who were 
elected in the district at large. AVitli the consolida- 
tion, however, Greensburg was divided into five 
wards, and the Board of School Directors, like the 
Borough Council, increased to fifteen members, three 
Ijeing elected from each ward. 

For a period of fifty-five years it has been the policy 
of the Greensburg district to admit pupils, whose 
parents reside contiguous to the borough, into all the 
schools, as well as the High school department, on 
the payment of a rate of tuition equal to that which 
it costs the district, per pupil. 






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Endowment and Donations, 



That the citizens of Greensburg entertain a very kindly 
feeling toward the common schools of the district, and a 
pride in the wide reputation for excellence which they have 
enjoyed for years, has frequently been attested, in many 




UNITED EVANGELICAL CHURCH. 

West Fourth Street. 

Erected 18%. 



ways. A number of the residents of the town, when nearing 
the close of their lives, have thought of the great usefulness 
of the schools, and made them the subject of their com- 
mendable generosity. 

One of the first of these persons, imbued with that laud- 
able public spirit, was Dr. John Morrison. In the coarse of 
his last will and testament, bearing date of March 
11, 1869, is this provision: "I give and bequeath 
to the 'School District of the borough of Greens- 
burg,' in the county and state aforesaid, three 
hundred dollars, to be applied as the School Direc- 
tors thereof may direct.'' Dr. Morrison died on 
August 4, 1869, and, in due time, the money was 
paid into the treasury of the school district by his 
executors. During the thirty years that have 
elajjsed, the successive Boards of Directors have 
kept the fund intact. It has been invested, from 
time to time, so that, with the accrued interest, it 
now amounts to about §1,200. It will ultimately 
be disposed of, no doiibt, in a manner that will be 
most advantageous to the schools, and, at the same 
time, perpetuate the memory of the donor. 

Morrison Underwood, on November 18, 1879, 
executed a deed conveying a fund of $11,000 to a 
board of trustees, of which §8,000 was for the ex- 
clusive use of the High school department of the 
Greensburg common schools. In its exact form, 
the deed is as follows : 



[160] 




DEED FOR THE UNDERWOOD DONATION. 

Know all men by these presents that I, Morrison Underwood, of 
Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pa., formerly of Greensburg, West- 
moreland county, Pa., for and in consideration of the sum of one 
dollar, to me paid by the persons hereinafter named, at and before the 
sealing and delivering of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby 
acknowledged, have granted, sold and delivered unto Thomas J. 
Barclay, Henry C. Marchand, Jno. Armstrong, Lewis Trauger, Philip 



^m 




I'KiiI'ERTY UF THE HEIRS OF MR. 
South Main Street. 



P. PAINTER. 



[161] 



S. Kuhns, Richard Coulter and James C. Clarke, all of the borough of 
Greensburg. Westmoreland county. Pa., eleven thousand dollars, 
S8.II00 of which is in cash and three thousand in four per cent. United 
States government bonds. To have and hold the said eleven thousand 
dollars to the parties aforesaid, their successors and assigns. In trust 
nevertheless for the uses and purposes hereinafter mentioned. The 
persons above named and their successors shall be known and desig- 
nated Trustees of the Morrison Underwood donation fund. They shall 
have full power and authority and it shall be their duty to fill all 
vacancies which may occur in their niimber from death, resig- 
nation, removal from the county aforesaid or otherwise. The 
said Trustees may appoint a treasurer if they deem proper, re- 
quiring him to give such security as they shall approve and are 
not to receive or accept any compensation for their own services. 
The said Trustees shall invest whatever amount of the fund 
herein given and granted is not already invested, in such secur- 
ities as in their .judgments, or that of a ma.jority of them, may 
be for the best interests of the ob.jects designated to be benetited 
by the donor, and on further trust shall have full power and 
authority to sell and dispose of any securities or bonds they may 
have from time to time, receive the proceeds thereof and re-in- 
vest the same in trust for the uses and purposes herein mention- 
ed, which uses, objects and purposes are hereby declared to be 
as follows : The said Trustees shall annually apply to and ex- 
pend eight elevenths of the clear income of said fund for the 
maintenance and support of the High school department of the 
common schools of the borough of Greensburg aforesaid in such 
manner as in the judgment of the Trustees or a majority of 
them shall be for the best interests and most advantage of said 
High school department: and the remaining three-elevenths of 
the clear annual income of said fund shall be expended by them 
in the establishment and maintenance of a suitable library and 
for reading matter for the inmates of the institution in said 
county designated by law The Directors of the Poor and the 
House of Employment of the county of Westmoreland. The 
said library shall be located in the buildings of said institution, 
but the selection and matter thereof to be under the exclusive 
control of said Trustees. In testimony whereof I have hereunto 
set my hand and seal the 18th day of November, 1879. 

On the same day that the deed was duly signed, seal- 
ed, and delivered, the persens designated in the instru- 



mm 









ment as trustees, added the following to the record : "We, Esq. 

the undersigned trustees, named in the foregoing deed, do said 

hereby accept the trust therein contained and set forth, and JI 

acknowledge to have received from Morrison Underwood, Hi; 




RESIDENCE OF A. H. BELL, ESQ. 
Corner South Main Street and Maple Avenue. 



the grantor, eleven thousand dollars, the trust f luk 

deed mentioned." 

r. Underwood died at Carli.sle, Pa., on February 2.5, 1885. 

remains were brought to Greensburg and interred in the 
old St. Clair cemetery, the obsequies being attended by 
all the pupils of the Greensburg common schools. Mr. 
Underwood lived long enough, after making the en- 
dowment, to witness some of the grand results attend- 
ing his considerate and noble act. In 1899 the board of 
trustees of the Underwood fund was composed of Gen. 
Richard Ooulter, Joseph J. Johnston, Esq., John D. 
(iill, Esq., Albert H. Bell, Esq., Mr. James A. Shields, 
Hon. Alexander D. McConnell and Mr. Benj. F. Vogle, 
only one of the original trustees named in the deed sur- 
viving. 

Through the means of the Underwood donation fund, 
the High school department has been supplied with 
many valuable text books of a scientific and historical 
character, together with much desirable and costly ap- 
paratus of various kinds. A library was established at 
the County Home, or poor house, in conformity with 
the provisions of the deed of trust. After a thorough 
trial, however, it was found that the inmates of that 
institution had a decided preference for newspapers, 
magazines and periodical publications instead of bound 
\'olumes of standard works. Exercising the power 
vested in them the trustees, in JSIay. 1887, had the 
lilirary ti-ansferred to an apartnient provided for that 



m 



m 
m 
m 

m 
m 





purpose in the High school department of the 
No. 1 school building. In the meantime liter- 
ature, such as the inmates of the County Home 
desired, has been supplied them. On the 
completion of the Greensbnrg High school 
building, the trustees of the Underwood fund 
prociu-ed a number of dust-proof, sectional oak 
bookcases, and the library was installed in the 
Directors' room of that substantial structure. 
In addition to the bookcases several large stands 
or cabinets, of special make, for the storage and 
display of the various specimens, donated to the 
High school, were likewise purchased by the 
Underwood trustees, and placed in that apart- 
ment. Embraced in the general collection, in 
the Directors' room, are — 

1. Underwood Library, containing about 
1,800 volumes, together with 300 volumes, dona- 
ted by the late Miss Kate Stoy. The books in 
Underwood library touch upon almost every 
subject. Some of the volumes have also been 
donated by citizens of the school district. 

•2. Miss Kate Stoy collection of Shells, about 
800 in number, from all parts of the world. 

3. Miss Kate Stoy collection of Butterflies 
and Insects, about 500 in numljer. 

•1. A bout 100 specimens of Invertebrates, from 
the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D. C. 









'-^M^hmhl^hmhm^m?^W' 





5. Mr. Cyrus Stark collection of niinerals, 100 in number, 
from ^Missouri and Kansas, consisting of Blende, Galena, 
Flint Rock, Gang'ue Rock, Ruliy Jack or Zinc Ore, Rosin 
Jack, Calamariiv, Quartz, etc. In the collection are some 
tine examples of crystallization. 

6. Dr. Alfred King collection of Fossil Ferns, etc., and 
also specimens from Geological Survey, about 1,000 in num- 
ber. 

7. About 2,00(» specimens of Shells, Rocks, Minerals, 
^Voods, etc., which have not yet been classified. 

Children in all the schools above the primary grades are 
permitted to borrow books from the library, under certain 
established rules and regulations. One of the teachers acts 
as librarian by appointment of the Superintendent. The ad- 
vantages of the lilirary are generally apjireciated b}^ the 
larger pupils. No books have lieen lost and there is no ap- 
parent disposition on the part of pupils to disregard or vio- 
ite the rules and regulations go\'erning the library. 

Many of the citizens of Greensburg possess surplus or un- 
used books, most of which are of an instructive and useful 
character, that could lie made to serve a good purpose if 
they were donated to the school library. Placed therein, such 
)ooks would help to enlarge and enrich the collection, which 
is increasing from year to year. It would likewise render 
the volumes availa))le for the young ladies and gentlemen, 
l)oth of the present and the future, who may strive for .self- 
improvement. 



Growth of the Schools. 






^uS 




'. BENEDICT S SCHOOL. 
North Main Street. 
Erected 1892. 



A glance at the records shows' a 
steady and healthy growth in the schools 
of Greensburg during the sixty-two 
years that the common school system 
has been in operation. In February, 
1S3T, when the first common schools 
were opened, three teachers were em- 
ployed and 160 pupils in the schools. 
The same number of teachers were in 
service in lS-t7, but the number of pu- 
pils had increased to 189, one teacher 
having 86 in charge. In 186.5 the num- 
ber of teachers was six, and pupils, 331. 
There were 4.50 pupils, with eight 
teachers and a Principal in the schools 
in December, 1877. The most rapid in- 
crease, however, has been within the 
past five years. A few statistics, touch- 
ing that period, from the official reports, 
are subjoined. It was between the 
school year ending the first Monday of 
June, 1894, and that ending the first 
Monday of June, 189.5, that the Bunker 
Hill borough school district became a 
part of the Greensburg school district : 



>f^^ 



[165] 



#1 






1894. 

No. of schools 17 

No. of teachers 17 

No. of pupils 780 

Average attendance 072 

Taxes for school and building purposes. $12,217.04 

Cost per pupil, per month 1.85 

State appropriation 4,246.85 



1895. 

J8 

19 

1,175 

815 

$13,414.21 

1.46 

5,711.02 



1890. 
24 
21 

1,0% 
844 



1897. 
27 
27 

1.178 
923 



$20,120.38 $21,192.78 
1.80 1.80 

5,711.62 5,497.83 



For the current school year, ending June 5, 1899, the en- 
rolhiient is 1,22.5 pupils and the average attendance about 
1,075, with thirty teachers, including the Borough Superin- 
tendent, employed. 







PROPERTY OF HON. FR.iNK B. HARORAVE. 
Seminary Avenue. 



Free Schools and Pay Schools. 

For a number of years after the public or free 
schools were put in operation in Greensburg, pri- 
vate or pay schools, of the primary and inter- 
mediate grades, were likewise conduced at inter- 
vals in the town. The terms of the public schools 
during the first fifteen years were somewhat ir- 
regular and the vacation periods protracted. In 
many instances, accordingly, the pay schools were 
opened during the prolonged vacations of the 
public schools. Moreover, lor a time, there was 
a reluctance on the part of some parents to place 
their children in the public schools. They gave two 
main reasons for entertaining that feeling. One 
was that there was a close association of good and 
bad children, and that the contact with bad or evil 
schoolmates might be detrimental to those who 
had enjoyed better home influences and training. 
Another strong reason was based on sanitary con- 
ditions. It must be confessed that in the earlier 
years of the public schools the personal habits of 



[166] 



the pupils were not of the model character, and were not re- 
garded as being within the authority of the teacher as now. 
Those juvenile afflictions, such as itch, mumps, chicken-pox, 
lice, etc. , frequently prevailed among the pupils, and it some- 
times happened that the presence of a few children so afflict- 
ed soon contaminated the entire school. 




AVhen the New Academy, or No. 1 school building, was 
erected, and a High school department established, however, 
the public schools became more orderly and better systemat- 
ized, and inspired stronger public confidence. Thereafter the 
pay and select schools, of the elementary grades, found few 
patrons and soon disappeared entirely. Since that time, in 
Greensburg, citizens of all classes have sent their children 
to the public, or, as designated by law, the common 
schools. 

Among the schools of the past was an academic institu- 
tion, known as the Muhlenberg Institute. It occupied an 
old building on Bunker Hill and was in operation during 
the years 18i7-'4S-'49. It was conducted under Lutheran 
auspices, and was the beginning of what is now Thiel 
college, located at Greenville, Pa. 

From 1845 to 1870 a German school was conducted at, 
intervals in Greensburg and Hetnpfield township, under 
a legacy from Jacob Buergy, left jointly to the Lutheran 
and German Reformed congregations for that purpose. 
Thereafter the fund was applied to the Sunday schools of 
those churches. 

C. D. Hass, on June 2.5, 1814, opened what he called a 
military academy in the Court House. It was not an edu- 
cational institution, as has sometimes been stated, how- 
ever, but was only for instruction in broad-sword exercise 
and infantry and cavalry discipline. The drills were con- 
fined to four periods a week, of two hours each. 



m 

M 
M 
M 
M 
M 
M 
M 
m 



m 



RESIDENCE OF W. A. GRIFFITH, ESQ. 
Oakland Avenue. 



m 




ST. JOSEPH S ACADEMY— SETON HILL. 

In Charge of the Sisters of Charity. 

Erected 1887. 



[168] 



The Pioneer Schoolmaster, 

One Balthaser Meyer, a German settler 
from eastern Pennsylvania, was the pioneer 
schoolmaster of the vicinity of Greens- 
burg, and, no doubt, Westmoreland coun- 
ty. About 1764 he located two miles south- 
east of Greensburg, in the vicinity of Har- 
old's church, and instructed the youth of 
the few pioneers in secular knowledge and 
the Lutheran catechism for over twenty 
years thereafter. 



School Bells. 

When the common school system was 
inaugurated in Greensburg in 1837, the 
Court House bell was brought into requisi- 
tion to notify the youth of the district 
when the hour had arrived to repair to the 
several places of instruction. At that 
period there were but two large bells in 
the town, the one on the temple of justice, 
and the other, a smaller and less far-sound- 
ing one, in the little belfry of the old 
German church (popularly known as "the 
Bee Hive"). As the use of the Court 
House bell for that purpose was freely 
granted by the county officials, it became 
the regular medium thereafter of summon- 









:*.^ 



^Ml 



THE SEMINARY— SETON HILL. 

In Charge of the Sisters of Charity. 

Erected 1887. 



[169] 



ing the children to school. It served in 
that capacity for a quarter of a century, 
or until the New Academy (No. 1 school 
building) was erected. A bell was then 
procured and placed in the tower of that 
structure. During the spring school term 
of 1S7S, however, a lad who was permitted 
to ring the bell, at the appointed hour, by 
the janitor, either through a lack of knowl- 
edge or by design, put so much energy into 
the work that he cracked it, and, that par- 
ticular bell was forever silenced. In the 
autumn of 1878 the Board of Directors 
purchased a new bell from a Pittsburg 
founder, and had it placed in the belfry of 
No. 1 school building. The new bell 
weighed 1,01.5 pounds, being much larger 
and of better tone than the old one. About 
1891 it was removed to the tower of No. 2 
school building, where it still does duty 
daily during the school term. 



« 



Other Educational Institutions. 

The corner stone of the Greensburg 
Seminary was formally laid on July 18, 
1874. The institution was projected by Rev. 



iM 



mL 



Lncien Govt, and cnnducted under the care of the Pittsburg 
Synod of the Reformed church. It was originally design- 
ed as a seminary for the education of young ladies, and was 
first opened on April 7, 1875, with fifty students in attend- 
ance. In July, 1888, it was leased and subsequently pur- 




RESIDENCE OF MR. W. D. WALTHOUR. 
Oakland Avenue. 



chased by the "Educational Society of AVestmoreland Coun- 
ty." Although under the control of members of the Lutheran 
faith, it is conducted in a non-sectarian manner. By the new 
management the institution was opened to students of both 
sexes. In connection with the Seminary there has been 
established a l)usiness college. In all its departments the in- 
stitution is on a substantial and successful basis. In recent 
years the attendance has been fron 300 to 350 students. The 
main building, or Seminary proper, is located on a large lot, 
bounded on the east by Seminary Avenue, and on the west 
by Oakland Avenue. Its situation is an elevated one and 
commands a view of the entire western section of Greens- 
burg. The Iniilding is an excellent brick and stone struc- 
ture. 

St. Joseph's Academy for the education of young ladies, 
and St. Mary's Seminary, for the instruction of small boys, 
occupy the most commanding eminence in this vicinity. 
They are located on Seton Hill, the northwestern suburb of 
Greensburg, and are in charge of the Sisters of Charity. The 
corner stone of this magnificent edifice was placed in 
position, with befitting ceremonies, on April 21, 1887. The 
building was constructed in the most substantial manner of 
brick and cut stone, and embraces every modern comfort 
and convenience. The frontage is 171 feet and the depth 
73 feet. The height of the main building is 47 feet, 
with a handsome tower 52 feet, making the aggregate 
height 99 feet. With the furnishings the total cost of 
the massive and superb structure was about §150,000. 



Both the Academy and Seminary are well attended during 
the school terms, and their educational character is of the 
highest order. Surrounding the beautiful buildings is a fertile 
and carefully cultivated farm of about two hundred acres, 
also owned by the Sisters of Charity. In 1896 an elegant 




chapel was erected, which adjoins the Academy on the north. 

It is liO feet in length, 72 feet wide and .58 feet high on the 

interior. 

St. Benedict's parochial school, connected with the Most 

Holy Sacrament (Catholic) church, is situated on the 

west side of North Main 
Street. It is an excellent 
brick and stone structure, 
and contains four large, 
airy and cheerful school 
rooms. It is attended 
by from 200 to 250 pupils. 
The building was erected 
in 1892, at a cost $8,000. 
It is contemplated, in the 
near future, to enlarge or 
double the size, adding four 
more commodious rooms. 
A parochial school has 
been maintained by the 
Greensburg Catholic con- 
gregation since 1860. Two 
other school houses, of a 
less pretentious character, 
were erected at different 
periods, prior to the pres- 
ent substantial building. 



t© 



T&SS 



Pase. 
j^ccount of Trustees for Locating- Countyseat. ■.. 10 

Act, Superseding Trustees Repealed U 

Armed Attack on Greensburg Threatened 15 

Borough Officers, the P'irst 28 

Building of the Turnpilce 63 

Business Rivalry at Greensburc in 1815 *>2 

Borough Votes S5U,000 for a Railroad 87 

Borougli Boundaries 103 

Bunker Hill Borough Annexed 105 

Borouf^h School Houses I'iS 

Buertjy German School 16? 

Courts at Robert Hanna's House 3 

Court House and Jail, the First at Greensburg — 5 
Countyaeat Contest Expressions in a Newspaper 

in 1786 8 

Court House and Jail, the Second 35 

Conestoga Wagons 59 

Commencing the Railroad Work at Greensburg. - - 80 

Court House and Jail, the Third 89 

Corner ^tonc of Tliird Court House Laid 91 

Court House Beils - 95 

County Convention of School Delegates. \8Ai 130 

Disavowed Aerceinent as to Cuuntyseat Siie 46 

Deed for the Public Square 47 

Dress of the Early Packers and Movers 50 

Distributing Newspapers in 1799 51 

Deed for "The Commons" ■■ — 115 

District School House 1:^6 

Deed for tlic ruder wood Donation Fund 161 

Early Miiil Meiliods 51 

Earliest U;iilro:id Tirao Tabic at Greensburg 84 

Exciting War-Time Incident 96 

Executions in the Jails 102 

Earliest School Teachers 113 

Early Subscription Schools I'i'i 

Early School Text Books 127 

First Locomotive Into Westmoreland 82 

P^irst Locomotive Into Greensburg S3 

First Railroad Shipments 85 

First Telegraph Lines 88 

Fourth t'ouniy Jail at Greensburg 98 

First Borough T.ixes and Collector Ill 

First Scliuol Exhibitions H4 

First Coiuuinn Schools in Greensburg 132 

First Borough School SupurintendeiiL l.io 

Free Schools and Pay Schools 166 



Greensburg, When and Why so Named 1-2 

Greensburg Durine: Whiskey Insurrection 14 

Greensburg Incorporated as a Borough 22 

Greensburg Innkeepers in 1788 oK 

Greensburg & Pittsburg Turnpike, First Offlcers. 56 

Greensburg Ward Divisions 106 

Greensburg Feuuvle Seminary 135 

Greensburg High School Building 148 

Gov. Gearv's Visit to the Schools l-"'6 

Growth of the Schools 16,5 

Greensburg Seminary 169 

Holding Court in Taverns 35 

Hempfield Railroad ■ 86 

Itemized Cost of First Court House 10 

Itemized Cost of Second Court House 36 

Jurors for the First Term of Court at Greensburg, 

1787 V 

Locating the Seat of Justice 2 

Law and Order Meeting in 1794 18 

LrlUrs TiiU-ntfor Merging Bunker Hill 107 

Lisi ol llori.u-rh Offlcers Since 1799 109 

Militia Slatioued at Greensburg iu 1791 16 

Market Houses 31 

Mail Stage Schedules in 1807 and 1813 52 

Morrison, Dr. John, Bequest to the Schools 160 

Muhlenberg Institute 167 

Newtown, whence derived 1 

Newspaper History 71 

New Aciidcmv. or School Building No. 1 142 

No.2ScIhhi1 Huildhig 144 

No.3 S.'Ik.i.I liiiil.ling 146 

Old Gri'CMslMutJ^ Academy 117 

Old Academv Lot Acquired 138 

Plan of the Public Lots 13 

Purchasers of the Public Lots 13 

Plan of Second Court House and Jail 37 

Pack Horses and Karly Roads 49 

Public Executions. First, and Last 70 

Public Journals of the Past 78 

Pennsylvania Railroad Built 79 

Principals of the Greensburg Schools 154 

Pioneer Schoolmaster 168 

Removing the Courts from Hannastjwn 6 

Hugh, M., Bill for Superintending First Court 

House II 

Resid<!ni s of Greensburg in 1799 33 

Kedcmptioners for Sale 41 




Rivalry of the Stage Lines 61 

Residents of Greensburg in 1817 67 

Railroads That Were Projected 86 

Suspected Insurgents in Jail, in 1794 19 

Sketches of First Borough Officials 28 

Slaves Sold in Greensburg 33 

Stoystown & Greensburg Turnpike, first Officers. . 57 

Some Old Inns 65 

School House, Grcensburg's First 112 

Subscribers to the Old Academy Fund 119 

Some Distinguished Students 122 

Subscription School Teachers 124 

School District Boundaries 158 

School Library and Museum 163 

School Bells 168 

St. Joseph's Academy 170 

St. Mary's Seminary 170 

St. Benedict's School 171 

Trustees to Build Court House Superseded 7 

Tax Kates in Greensburg in 1799 33 

Town Site in Court 41 

Trustees' Depositions About Countyseat Location. 43 

Tavern License in 1769 50 

Turnpike Financial Statement, 1819 58 

Tavern Charges 85 Years Ago 61 

Teachersin the Old Academy 121 

Underwood Fund Trustees 162 

Volume of Turnpike I'ravel and Traffic 61 

Vole on Bunker Hill Consolidation 107 

Whiskey Pole Erected in l79a 21 



KRRATA. 



Page 3— Second column, fourth line, £1000 instead of 

.-ei.ou. 

Page 29— First column, fifth line, No. 10 instead of 
No. nS. 

Page 35— Omitted from summary of taxable property 
in Greensburg in 1800: three slaves. 

Page 43— Planing mill of Mr. J. Covode Reed: Junc- 
tion of East Pittsburg and East Ottcrman Street. 

Page t)5— Residence of Mr. John Dorn: East Pitts- 
burg Street instead of West Pittsburg Street 

Page 114 -Line 10: Designated instead of designed. 




ILLUSTRATIONS. 






^^ 



PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 

Page. 

Court House and Jail, the first 6 

County Home. 9 

Court House, the second 3i 

Court House, the third 90 

County Jail, the fourth 99 

Children's Home 131 

Masonic Temple Hi 



CHURCHES. 



Baptist, First 126 

Catholic 58 

Christian Kig 

Covenanter 115 

Episcopal .16 

Lutheran, First 3i 

Lutheran, Zion's 84 

Lutheran, Swedish 156 

Methodist Episcopal 70 

Hresbyterian, First 28 

Presbyterian. Westminster 138 

Reformed, First 40 

Reformed. Second 78 

United Brethren 9i 

United Hresbyterian 102 

United Evangelical 160 



Academy, Old Greensburg 118 

Academy, New, or Ko. 1 Building... 141 

Borough School House. ino 

Jjistrict School House 136 

Greensburg's first building 114 

Greensburg High School. 149 

Greensburg Seminary 16H 

No. 2 School Building 145 

No. 3 School Building 147 

St. Benedict's Parochial 16.3 

St. Josupli's Academy i(i8 

St. Mary's Seminary 169 



RESIDENCES. 




Ackerman, H. S 


5 


Ahvine. Samuel, Sr 




Armstrong, John, Esq., Heira 


S-1 


Brown, Samuel P 




Blythe, Mrs. R. A 


11 


Brinkei-, William F 


IS 


Beacom, Hon. James S 


SI 


Bott.L. W 




Barclay, Mrs. Rebecca 


T>. 


Bair,K H 




Bennett, James A 


iin 


Bierer. late Z. P 


1?S 


Byers. VV S., Esq 


lis 


Bell, A. H., Esq 


162 


Cole, Dr. T. P 


18 


Cochrane, James 


37 




44 


Cribbs, Christopher 


n7 


OliBord, Dr. E, M 


m 


Carroll, James 


ef>. 


Clopper, Frank Y 


93 


Clarke, late Hon. Jas. C 


1-fi 


Coshey, Henry S 


138 


Clarke, John K 


loU 


Dohnohoe, Edward 




Dick, Edward K 


HI 


Horn, Jo.m 


fii 


Donoiioe. Thomas, Sr 


18+ 


Kicher. Henry K 


67 


Fogg. Charles H 


1" 


Fisher, Adam 


i- 


Furtwangler, Leopold 


l"S 


Foight, Samuel B 


I'tl 


Gratf, Frank N 


M 


LJross, E. M., country 


.i6 


Glunt, Israel 


1U3 


Good, George W 


III 


Gaither, Paul H., Esq 


1"7 


Gill, John D.,Esq 


13+ 


Gross, E. iM 


l.nS 


Griltith, W, A., Esq 


167 


Huff, Hon. Geo. F 


36 


Hammer, Dr. R. B 


74 


Hays. George A 


R6 


Huff.Llojd B 


\->.{ 


Hargrave, Hon. Frank b 


166 


Irwin.D. M 


71 



Johnston, J. J.. Esq 39 

Jamison, Robert S 73 

Jones Thomas L 140 

Kline, S. A , Esq at 

Kuhris, Mrs. John .^3 

Kunkle. John E.. Esq 63 

Keck, Leonard 87 

Lane. W. S 83 

Long. Oliver P 120 

Lynch, Thomas 139 

Loor, W, C 152 

McCuUough, Mrs. Ada B 7 

M oore, Mrs. J. W 27 

Meanor, Mrs. Elizabeth 29 

Murphey, John S 32 

M archana, Mrs. J. A 45 

Moorhead, James S., Esq 47 

McCaudland, Mrs. Anna 64 

Miller, Fridolin 96 

Myers, J. Kappe 107 

Miller, David A.. Esq 124 

Marsh, Dr. E. B 125 

Martin, A. E 144 

McCann, P. F 146 

Miles, J. Nathaniel 153 

McGrew, A. B 158 

Uppenheim. 1 79 

Off ut. Dr. Lemuel lul 

Piiiiiter, Morris L 31 

PoUins, John VV 85 

Peoples, W'm. C, Esq 108 

Patton, J. Howard 161 

Robbins, Hon K. ii,. -10 

Rask. Bennett 69 

Robinson. Jame-* B \m 

Rumbaiigh, J anies 157 

Scott. John W 17 

Sell, Eli 49 

Stark, Mrs. C. H 75 

Stephenson. John V 92 

Sell. John S 113 

Turney, Mrs. John W 105 

Turney, Mrs. Jncob 117 

Townsend, Mrs. E W U2 

Taylor. Jeff W., \£.i(\ it3 

Whiiclield, Edward 26 

Wouda, ,Mrs. Mary J 89 

Wentzell, Jitnies C 91 

Wentling. John F., Esq 97 



Welty, Mrs. Barbara 119 

Welty, A. D 154 

Walthour, W. D 170 

Zinmierman. J. F. 14 

Zimmeiman, John, Heirs 137 

BUSINESS BUILDINGS. 

Bank fc Trust 2 

Barclay Ortice Building 13 

Blank Brothers 50 

Barnhart, C. T 68 

Barclay Bank 104 

Brown, Wm., Heirs 112 

Eicher. Henry R 8 

Fisher House 25 

First National Bank 76 

Guy. Harry M 81 

Glunt, Israel 95 

Greensburg Steam Laundry 13o 

Greensburg Ice & Coal Co 174 

Hotel St;irk 19 

Huff Office Building 52 

Kciiggy Theatre 22 

Keck, L. & Co 42 

Mitinger, John F ao 

Martin, A. E 88 

Null House 15 

Pollins, Messrs 48 

Painter, C. R.. Heirs 16t 

Reed, J. Covode 43 

Shields, Painter & Sloan 24 

Stoner, J. W 66 

Sondles. John C 98 

Troutnian, A E., & Co 60 

Thomas, H. F 80 

The Kelly & Jones Co 109 

Westmoreland National Bank 16 

Walthour, S. L 150 

Zimmerman House 3 

POKTKAITS. 

Greene, Gen. Nathaniel 1 

Turney, Hon. Jacob 117 

VIEWS. 

Greensburg in 1840 132 

Greensburg in 1874 171 



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